Offensive Behaviour At Football Act Getting Abolished?

[Drunk and disorderly. 15,094]

Unworkable law and very poorly enforced.

I hope it gets repealled. 

You can't sanatise what people sing, but Snp use legislation that has got Bears the jail. Threse cunts spout on about independence whilst guys lose their freedom and jobs for singing a fucking song.

Depressing to think they control my country. 

 

 

[Bad Robot 21,513]

I think a lot of people said the existing laws were adequate so if they don't replace this they will just resort back to the BOTP which again was back to the police to interpret as IMO was also a bit of a farce. 

If anyone thinks this is a victory for us then your badly mistaken as its our Glaswegian fenians who will get the moral victory out of this.

I never had an issue with the OBA as I believe im sensible enough to know what could be interpreted as being offensive at a stadium, on the street or on the net.  

 

[Virtuoso 27,180]

Martin Hannan in todays National:
 

Quote

Opposition parties to unite in bid to kill off anti-sectarianism Act

THE first clash between the minority SNP Government and the opposition parties is set to take place over the controversial anti-sectarian law brought in almost four years ago.

With Labour, the Liberal Democrats, the Conservatives and Greens all pledged to repeal the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications Act 2012, the Scottish Government last night pledged to fully back the law; which has been criticised by sheriffs, lawyers and fans alike, particularly as it does not state what exactly constitutes offensive behaviour.

Labour MSP James Kelly has pledged to bring in a Member's Bill, saying: Labour will work with other parties in the Scottish Parliament to repeal the Football Act.

The law has become a symbol of the SNP's arrogance in government. No other party supported the law but the SNP used their majority to bulldoze it through anyway. The SNP are now a minority government and that means parliament can repeal the SNP Football Act.

In an unusually strongly worded statement, the Scottish Government warned that repealing the act which a poll found was supported by 80 per cent of Scots - would send a wrong signal about the campaign against sectarianism.

A spokesman said: The vast majority of football supporters are well-behaved and simply wish to support their team and enjoy the game. The Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications Act has delivered real improvements.

Since its introduction, religious crimes, race crimes and crimes in relation to individualssexuality are down and we've seen a decrease in crimes of offensive behaviour at, or in relation to, regulated football matches in Scotland.

Statistics show a steady decline in offences at stadiums and a YouGov poll shows 80 per cent of Scots support the act a view shared by the overwhelming majority of those in the sample who follow Scottish football.

The act sends out a clear message that Scotland will not tolerate any form of prejudice, discrimination or hate crime, and it gives police and prosecutors an additional tool to tackle this behaviour.

Any move to repeal the Act at this time would send entirely the wrong signal and would undermine progress in driving all forms of prejudice from the game.

The Government also pointed out that it remains committed to tackling all forms of prejudice and discrimination and has invested 11.5 million for this, during the last four years.

With only 63 MSPs, the other parties could muster 65 and defeat the Government on this and other issues, but only if they all unite that would be just great for us, said an SNP source, who said that while the law could be amended, senior party figures believe all four opposition parties will score a spectacular own goal if they go for outright repeal.

That is what Tory chief whip John Lamont wants. He said: Having prevented the SNP from gaining an overall majority, we can now use the powers of the parliament to scrap some of the bad laws they passed in the last one.

To do that, opposition parties need to work together where possible and, as Scotland's main opposition, we aim to facilitate that as best we can.

The Scottish Greens reaffirmed their manifesto commitment for repeal and the Liberal Democrats spokesman said: We all want to tackle sectarianism but this law was a badly drafted, knee-jerk reaction to a genuine problem and Lib Dems are committed to scrapping it.

Tackling sectarianism goes beyond 90 minutes on the terraces. The Scottish Government created the independent advisory group on tackling sectarianism. We need ministers to listen to the experts.

An official SNP spokesman said: This legislation is about taking firm action against sectarianism and other offensive behaviour, and it speaks volumes about Labours priorities that they see teaming up with the Tories to try and scrap such laws as the most important issue facing Scotland.

 

 

http://www.thenational.scot/news/opposition-parties-to-unite-in-bid-to-kill-off-anti-sectarianism-act.17603

[sandyinroyalblue 16,478]

There's a debate coming up on it on Scotland 2016 on BBC2.

[sandyinroyalblue 16,478]

Watched both debates on BBC and STV and there seem little chance of the climbdown from the Scottish government and this law being repealed.

[John Anderson 73]

Brilliant, I want to use my first ever post to say fuck the SNP. 

[Mojo84 182]

9 hours ago, sandyinroyalblue said:

Watched both debates on BBC and STV and there seem little chance of the climbdown from the Scottish government and this law being repealed.

They are now in a minority Government. If all of the other parties stick to their pledges about repealing the law and follow the party whip, then there's nothing the SNP can do about it.

[GOAT 30,449]

See all these opinion polls backing this disgraceful law, where are they?  I've never been asked for my opinion on it, have any of you?

[Gersey 13]

Snp 'The National' distorting the law in the piece above - at no point in the bill's dozens of pages does "anti sectarian" get mentioned, it's not an "anti sectarian" law it's offensive behaviour pure and simple.

[RM Monitor And Standards Officer 112,988]

1 hour ago, GOAT said:

See all these opinion polls backing this disgraceful law, where are they?  I've never been asked for my opinion on it, have any of you?

Nope 

[jintybear 8,750]

1 hour ago, GOAT said:

See all these opinion polls backing this disgraceful law, where are they?  I've never been asked for my opinion on it, have any of you?

No because they didn't ask football fans. They probably asked fannies who follow rugby and have never been to a football match in their lives!

The law is a joke