The
Celtic Supporters Association; along with the other major supporters groups;
The Affiliation of Registered Celtic Supporters Clubs; The Green Brigade, The
Association of Irish Celtic Supporters Clubs; The Celtic Trust; and The North
American Federation of Celtic Supporters Clubs.
Totally
oppose the proposed new legislation for tackling offensive behaviour at
football matches in Scotland. We believe that ordinary Celtic Supporters will
be criminalised by this legislation for doing what we have done for over 120
years.
Every
Celtic fan can play their part in opposing the new legislation by signing the
online petition. In the coming weeks there will be more organised protests
against the new Bill. Please sign the petition; and play your own part in
stopping this draconian Bill.
Following the so-called ‘Shame Game’ last March, the police and the
Scottish Government called Celtic and Rangers to a summit to discuss a
range of societal problems they claimed football was responsible for.
Since then, the ills of society have been laid at football’s door and
football fans have been blamed for everything from sectarianism to
drink-fuelled domestic abuse. The government and a hitherto compliant
Scottish media have portrayed the Offensive Behaviour at Football Bill
as ‘anti-sectarian’ legislation.
The reality is, however, very different from the political rhetoric.
There is very little criminality at football matches – indeed, there
has been no serious disorder in a Scottish stadium for over thirty
years. The very small number of offences committed inside Scottish
football grounds is a symptom of the nation’s wider problems with
alcohol and bigotry, rather than a cause.
The Offensive Behaviour at Football Bill does not tackle any of the
nation’s problems. As a range of bodies from the Law Society to Nil By
Mouth argue, there are existing laws that ably tackle sectarianism and
other hate crimes. Instead, the proposed new legislation criminalises
football fans for being football fans. The new law applies only to us
and leaves football fans all over the country liable for arrest and
imprisonment. Justice Minister Roseanna Cunningham suggests fans may be
arrested for anything from making the sign of the cross to singing a
national anthem. A whole range of acts routinely carried out by fans at
football matches could be considered ‘offensive’. Any fan arrested under
this new legislation will likely be subject to the nightmare of a
football banning order and numerous court appearances before their case
is even heard. Those convicted can be sentenced to 5 years imprisonment.
As Celtic fans, we have even more reason to be fearful about the
Bill, given Justice Committee Chair Christine Graham’s view that the law
should be seen as an ‘evening-up’ process, allowing the criminal law to
capture Celtic fans as well as those of our city rivals.
Rather than any serious policy debate, the Scottish Government has
instead engaged in political grandstanding. Football fans have barely
been considered or their views consulted as Alex Salmond tries to
accelerate the Bill onto the statute books.
But fans will no longer remain silent on the issue and our voices
must be heard. The Green Brigade’s recent protest at the Inverness match
was given huge backing by the Celtic support and has been followed by
similarly well-received protests at other grounds. It now also seems
that other commentators and members of civil society are starting to see
through the Scottish government’s rhetoric and realise that the Bill is
a poorly crafted piece of legislation that is both unnecessary and
undesirable.
Fans Against Criminalisation will not allow the ills of Scottish
society to be laid at the door of football fans, or football fans to be
treated as second-class citizens, subject to a ludicrous law that
applies only to us. We will not stand idly by as fan culture and
football fans are criminalised. Over the coming weeks and months we will
be mounting a campaign against the Offensive Behaviour at Football
Bill.