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| Football fans give evidence to MSPs on hate crime bill | Football fans give evidence to MSPs on hate crime bill |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Football fans, pundits and academics are giving evidence to MSPs about the Scottish government's bill on hate crime at matches. | |
| Holyrood's Justice Committee has been hearing from a range of supporters. | |
| It is now taking evidence from former footballer and commentator Pat Nevin and sports writer Graham Spiers. | |
| The bill wants to outlaw behaviour deemed to "incite religious, racial or other forms of hatred" in and around football grounds and on the internet. | The bill wants to outlaw behaviour deemed to "incite religious, racial or other forms of hatred" in and around football grounds and on the internet. |
| Representatives from the Rangers Supporters Trust and the Celtic Trust attended the meeting. | |
| Fans of Dundee United, Aberdeen, Hibs and Hearts football clubs have also been represented. | |
| In addition, academics from the University of Abertay in Dundee and Queen's University in Belfast have been speaking at the meeting. | |
| More than 70 written submissions have been handed to the committee from wide ranging sections of society including the Scottish Beer and Pub Association and the Scottish Human Rights Commission. | More than 70 written submissions have been handed to the committee from wide ranging sections of society including the Scottish Beer and Pub Association and the Scottish Human Rights Commission. |
| Sociology and criminology lecturer at the University of Abertay Dundee, Stuart Waiton, wrote a submission in which he outlined his theory that the lower classes were being discriminated against in the legislation. | Sociology and criminology lecturer at the University of Abertay Dundee, Stuart Waiton, wrote a submission in which he outlined his theory that the lower classes were being discriminated against in the legislation. |
| He wrote: "The Football Bill consciously distinguishes football fan activity from the words and behaviour of artists, comedians and other performers. That football rowdiness is arguably part of a 'performance' specific to games is ignored." | He wrote: "The Football Bill consciously distinguishes football fan activity from the words and behaviour of artists, comedians and other performers. That football rowdiness is arguably part of a 'performance' specific to games is ignored." |
| 'Rude words' | 'Rude words' |
| Mr Waiton added: "This aspect of the bill appears to be wholly discriminatory against football fans who would no longer be treated equally under the law. | Mr Waiton added: "This aspect of the bill appears to be wholly discriminatory against football fans who would no longer be treated equally under the law. |
| "Furthermore, and perhaps more contentiously, the focus on what could be described as crude and rude words - fenian, tim, hun and so on - which are more part of everyday language amongst poorer sections of society, means that these people are again potentially criminalised for simply lacking politeness or using what is deemed to be politically incorrect language." | "Furthermore, and perhaps more contentiously, the focus on what could be described as crude and rude words - fenian, tim, hun and so on - which are more part of everyday language amongst poorer sections of society, means that these people are again potentially criminalised for simply lacking politeness or using what is deemed to be politically incorrect language." |
| If passed by MSPs, the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Bill would mean those convicted could spend as long as five years in prison and be banned from football grounds. | If passed by MSPs, the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Bill would mean those convicted could spend as long as five years in prison and be banned from football grounds. |
| The committee has already heard evidence from security chiefs at both Rangers and Celtic as well as Lord Advocate Frank Mulholland and the chairman of the Scottish Police Federation. | The committee has already heard evidence from security chiefs at both Rangers and Celtic as well as Lord Advocate Frank Mulholland and the chairman of the Scottish Police Federation. |
| The SNP originally wanted to pass a bill tackling sectarianism before parliament went into recess and ahead of the football season kicking off. | The SNP originally wanted to pass a bill tackling sectarianism before parliament went into recess and ahead of the football season kicking off. |
| However, opposition parties raised concerns over the speed of change and First Minister Alex Salmond agreed it would not be rushed through as "emergency" legislation. | However, opposition parties raised concerns over the speed of change and First Minister Alex Salmond agreed it would not be rushed through as "emergency" legislation. |
| Instead, the plans were opened up to further scrutiny with an aim to be in place on January 1 next year. | Instead, the plans were opened up to further scrutiny with an aim to be in place on January 1 next year. |