Ticked-off Scottish league chiefs are set to serve pyro-wielding louts with 10-year banning orders as decision makers accelerate their push to rid it from our game,
It comes in a week where Celtic and Rangers were rapped by UEFA and the Glasgow giants begged their supporters to ditch the fireworks forever. UEFA bigwigs have warned the Premiership champions their supporters will be hit with an away day ban if they breach strict rules surrounding pyrotechnics.
Celtic fans flaunted the rules against Borussia Dortmund and concerned acting Rangers chairman John Gilligan urged the Ibrox faithful that the time is now to give it up, Both club’s pleas come amid the SPFL’s push to severely punish offenders. Hampden’s movers and shakers have held multiple meetings with police chiefs, the Crown Office and The Scottish Government.
Now new legislation is incoming and it’s expected to warn those who refuse to listen that they will be locked out for a significant period of time. An insider, speaking to The Sun, said: “They are working with the government and police on this issue — and they all want change to happen. The current legislation is not an effective deterrent for criminal behaviour at games in Scotland — and part of that is pyro.”
And those thoughts are echoed by community Safety Minister Siobhian Brown, who said: “We have considerably strengthened pyrotechnic laws, and those who carry fireworks and pyrotechnics into football stadia can face fines and up to six months in prison. Despite this, pyrotechnic misuse at football matches remains an issue.
“We have been working closely with football’s governing authorities and with police on what more can be done to stop this. Football Banning Orders of up to ten years are already an effective measure courts have at their disposal to deal with violent behaviour. I have asked this working group to consider whether extending their reach would be a further deterrent to pyrotechnic possession and misuse.”