The Scottish government is considering whether to extend powers to ban football fans from games for offences like using pyrotechnics and online abuse.
Currently Football Banning Orders (FBOs) are only imposed if supporters are involved in violence or disorder – they enable the authorities to stop fans attending games anywhere in the UK for 10 years.
But the Scottish government is launching a consultation on Monday to seek views on whether bans should be given out for other reasons.
Siobhan Brown, Community Safety Minister
The consultation, being launched by Community Safety Minister Siobhian Brown, was informed by an expert group which included football authorities, the Scottish government and police.
They were originally brought in to crackdown on violence and disorder at games or in the lead-up to them and afterwards back in 2006 when hooliganism was rife north of the border. But the legislation hasn’t been updated since then, with new rules being explored.
Fireworks are inherently dangerous.
Just ask the accident and emergency staff at the local A and E and you’ll get the answer to that.
But even the dimmest should know that holding and setting off fireworks in a crowded stadium full of people is dangerous. But morons are morons and its not them who might lose an eye or get scarred.
But why does the Scottish Government need new legislation. If any of us went into a shop, a cinema or a public thoroughfare and started lobbing fireworks around would there need to be new legislation to allow police to do something about it.
Or what about the clubs. Why can they not take action against the use of fireworks in their stadium. It is in my opinion a breach of a duty of care, a breach of health and safety for the clubs to allow this.
Dangerous behaviour, like abuse on line or offline is wrong, is potentially criminal so why does this government need a consultation.
Or am I missing something?