A motion at the STUC Youth Conference on Saturday discussed the repeal the ‘Offensive Behaviour at Football’
THE STUC Youth Conference has passed a motion in favour of repealing the controversial ‘Offensive Behaviour at Football’ Act.
Unite the Union moved the motion at the conference on Saturday, stating that it believes the legislation “is a rushed, ill-conceived and illogical piece of the statute, which only serves as an unwarranted attack on the freedom of movement and expression of football fans”.
The motion added: “Whilst conference accedes that sectarianism has no place in society, not just in football, we argue that this legislation does very little to combat that scourge, far less than what existing statute and already successful community integration programmes were achieving.”
Unite told the conference that “two million people in Scotland attended football matches last year” and that there were only 287 arrests under the Offensive Behaviour Act, at a rate of 0.01 per cent.
Unite told the conference that “two million people in Scotland attended football matches last year” and that there were only 287 arrests under the Offensive Behaviour Act, at a rate of 0.01 per cent.
“There are no other parts of society that accept that such a minority, dictates the statute.”
Unite added: “The Scottish Government has repeatedly held this up as a flagship for the anti-sectarian law, despite being attacked by every political party, fan group, football clubs and the human rights group, Liberty.”
STUC Youth Conference delegate Douglas Main, from USDAW, told the conference: “Some of the tactics that we have seen – CCTV, the dedicated police squad to track down and target these football fans.
“The skills that they are using on football fans, they will use on trade unionists because what they want to do is shut down political expression.”
Unite added: “The Scottish Government has repeatedly held this up as a flagship for the anti-sectarian law, despite being attacked by every political party, fan group, football clubs and the human rights group, Liberty.”
Main added: “We had some Celtic fans dragged through the courts for singing the “Roll of Honour”, which regardless of your political opinions is an expression of a certain heritage and criminalising that will affect everybody.
“We have also seen Motherwell fans being taken to Greenock Prison instead of a police station, held there for two days. That is the effect that this law is having on working class people.”
The Bill was introduced in 2011 after a series of incidents, including trouble at a Rangers vs Celtic game, and the sending of suspected bombs to the then Celtic manager Neil Lennon, lawyer Paul McBride and MSP Trish Godman..
The legislation came into effect in March 2012 amid claims from the opposition parties at Holyrood that the Bill was “railroaded” through by the SNP.
“The skills that they are using on football fans, they will use on trade unionists because what they want to do is shut down political expression.” Douglas Main, delegate, USDAW
With all opposition parties still opposed to the legislation, Labour MSP James Kelly is hoping that his recently-tabled Private Members Bill to repeal the legislation will gain cross-party support.
Kelly said: “The Football Act was bulldozed through parliament by the SNP with not a single other party voting for it and everyone from football fans to academics and lawyers opposing it.
“The SNP still won’t admit they got it wrong on the Football Act, but they have lost their majority in parliament, and I will work constructively with the other parties to abolish the Football Act.”
The motion to repeal the ‘Official Behaviour at Football’ Act was overwhelming passed by the STUC Youth Conference.
Picture courtesy of The Celtic Network
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