Rangers and Celtic fans show united front in calling for anti-bigotry law scrapping

The Rangers fans shareholder group Club 1872 with over 8000 members has joined the Celtic Trust in calling for the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act to be repealed saying that in a poll of members, 90 per cent wanted the legislation to be ripped up.

It comes as Scottish Jews warned that the scrapping of the Act aimed at tackling sectarian behaviour at football would "inevitably" provide a sanction for offensive conduct.

The Scottish Council of Jewish Communities argues the Act does not go far enough and should be extended to be enforced outside the confines of football matches "equally in all contexts and venues" and to cover "all forms of hate crime".

The fans' stance came as the Scottish Parliament’s justice committee considers legislation which would repeal the act brought in following the Old Firm “shame game” between Rangers and Celtic in 2011.

In a representation to MSPs, Club 1872 said:"Our members indicated no concern about repeal of this section leaving a gap in criminal law. They were fully supportive of a complete repeal..."

They added: "Members who contacted us directly to comment on our poll indicated that they did not believe the 2012 Act had been successful in tackling sectarianism. They indicated that this informed their view that the Act should be repealed."

The Celtic Trust, the supporters and shareholders group, backed the scrapping of the Act describing it as “one of the worst pieces of legislation ever drafted in this country” and said it had “soured” relationships between fans and police.

The group said: “It can also be argued that police officers themselves have suffered because of this Act in that they are being ordered to pursue situations in the context of football matches very differently from how they would deal with the same situation in any other context.”

The SCoJC in calling for an extension of the legilslation, cited an example where Jews were subjected to “taunts and intimidation” at a performance by an Israeli dance group at an Edinburgh Fringe Festival event.

The group said: "Repeal would inevitably, even though not by intention, signal that certain behaviour currently prohibited under the 2012 Act is now permitted. The alternative of extending the coverage of the Act to other contexts, venues, and characteristics would undoubtedly have a far more positive effect for all the listed groups.

"We would regret the repeal of legislation that the prosecuting authorities believe has enabled them to pursue offenders who would otherwise have been able to continue their course of abuse and causing offence with impunity."

Opposition parties have united behind a bid by Labour’s James Kelly to scrap the legislation. But the Scottish Government argues the act gives police and prosecutors the power to tackle offensive and threatening behaviour in and around grounds.

The Glasgow Labour Group said it believes the Act "discriminates against football fans and is an unjustifiable attack on their rights to political expression and freedom of speech".

They added: "We believe that the 2012 Act has not assisted in tackling sectarianism. There is no ‘quick fix’ to this significant social problem.

"We believe that only through education can the social malaise of deep-rooted attitudinal sectarianism finally be cured.

But Victim Support Scotland said it was against the repeal of the legislation "unless there is a viable alternative to support victims of threatening communication and religious prejudice".

They added: “We believe repeal of section 6 (of the Act) would leave an unacceptable gap in Scottish legislative protection for victims of religious prejudice.

“There is no alternative specific offence in Scots Law which criminalises threats made with the intention to incite religious hatred.”