Most professional football matches in Scotland are played in front of well-behaved and respectful crowds. But games involving big full-time clubs, and local cup ties have seen a steady increase in violence and anti-social behaviour over the last 15 years.
Social media has allowed fans intent on causing disorder to better communicate and share footage of their attacks. Chief Inspector Craig Naylor is right when he says this is a situation that cannot continue to be tolerated.
Scottish Cup tie violence and arrests
The Scottish Cup tie in March between Rangers and Celtic at Ibrox, which saw pitch invasions by both sets of supporters and more than 37 arrests, was a grim day for football north of the Border. It also saw fans terrify shoppers innocently going about their business.
Cops now believe the introduction of live facial recognition could prevent future violence and disorder. The AI driven technology uses video cameras to photograph people in public places.
Existing laws need greater rigour
But simply identifying known trouble-makers is not going to be enough. Existing laws need to be implemented with greater rigour.
It’s illegal to bring glass bottles into a ground, or consume alcohol in the stands, but a minority still do it. More stringent searches of supporters at games, where the likelihood of disorder is judged to be high, are also required.
The use of pyrotechnics continues at matches despite promises of a clamp-down. Fans should also be told they cannot cover their faces entering a ground. The police must get a grip on the issue and fast.
