Scottish Banning Orders (Back to Scrapbook)
Red card for football hooligans and bigots
ORDERS banning hooligans and bigots from all football grounds in the UK will be introduced in Scotland from this weekend, it was announced yesterday.
The orders, which have been in place in England and Wales for six years, will be available to the Scottish courts from Friday.
Anyone issued with such an order will be banned from attending matches for up to ten years. It will apply in Scotland, the rest of the UK and abroad for international fixtures.
Launching the Straight Red campaign at Hampden Park in Glasgow, Cathy Jamieson, the justice minister, said: "I am passionate about football, and those who sour the reputation of their clubs are a disgrace to us all. The police asked us for additional powers, and we have provided them.
"[Banning orders] represent a severe penalty for those who peddle hatred or engage in unruly and violent behaviour."
David Taylor, the chief executive of the Scottish Football Association, welcomed the move. He said: "It only takes a few mindless idiots to do damage to our reputation. We must remain vigilant and take all possible steps to root out known troublemakers who use football as an excuse for antisocial conduct."
A banning order can be imposed by a court on anyone convicted of a football-related offence, and it can last for up to ten years.
Offences that might result in an order include sectarian chanting, physical assault or shouting racist remarks.
In England and Wales, 3,420 people are currently subject to banning orders.
Helping to publicise the bans was Andy Nicholls, 43, a father of two from North Wales, who is serving a life ban from his club, Everton, for hooliganism. He also spent three months behind bars for football-related violence and has written a number of books on the subject.
He had a stark warning for any would-be troublemakers. "A banning order hurts more than any thump or kick you get and, more importantly, hurts more than any fine," he said.
"They even hurt more than getting sent to prison.
The banning orders changed my life because it's taken away something from me which, even as a hooligan, I was passionate about.
"Taking away that part of your life hurts."
Anyone issued with such an order will be banned from attending matches for up to ten years. It will apply in Scotland, the rest of the UK and abroad for international fixtures.
Launching the Straight Red campaign at Hampden Park in Glasgow, Cathy Jamieson, the justice minister, said: "I am passionate about football, and those who sour the reputation of their clubs are a disgrace to us all. The police asked us for additional powers, and we have provided them.
"[Banning orders] represent a severe penalty for those who peddle hatred or engage in unruly and violent behaviour."
David Taylor, the chief executive of the Scottish Football Association, welcomed the move. He said: "It only takes a few mindless idiots to do damage to our reputation. We must remain vigilant and take all possible steps to root out known troublemakers who use football as an excuse for antisocial conduct."
A banning order can be imposed by a court on anyone convicted of a football-related offence, and it can last for up to ten years.
Offences that might result in an order include sectarian chanting, physical assault or shouting racist remarks.
In England and Wales, 3,420 people are currently subject to banning orders.
Helping to publicise the bans was Andy Nicholls, 43, a father of two from North Wales, who is serving a life ban from his club, Everton, for hooliganism. He also spent three months behind bars for football-related violence and has written a number of books on the subject.
He had a stark warning for any would-be troublemakers. "A banning order hurts more than any thump or kick you get and, more importantly, hurts more than any fine," he said.
"They even hurt more than getting sent to prison.
The banning orders changed my life because it's taken away something from me which, even as a hooligan, I was passionate about.
"Taking away that part of your life hurts."
All content © Andy Nicholls
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