The blight of pyrotechnics in the stands at Scottish football matches has gone on for long enough.
A minority of fans continue to let off dangerous pyros at games despite the obvious risks to people’s health and safety – not to mention a 2023 ban that seems to have done little good.
Flares and fireworks are a nightmare for fellow fans and players alike and only serve to disrupt – and ultimately diminish – our national game.
Players union boss Fraser Wishart, as we report today, is quite right to say if clubs won’t take proper action to stamp out the use of flammable devices, they should face consequences. That could mean partial or even full stadium closures, forcing matches to be played behind closed doors.
Of course, nobody wants that. How would it look, for example, if at next weekend’s Old Firm clash – the Scottish League Cup final at Hampden – parts or all of the ground had to be closed off because of the behaviour of an irresponsible few?
It’s an untenable situation when foolish ultras are putting everyone else in the stadium at potential risk of harm. It should not have to take someone getting seriously hurt or even, in a worst-case scenario, killed for clubs and authorities to enforce necessary changes.
As Wishart points out, football games are public events like any other. Dangerous pyrotechnics wouldn’t be accepted at an outdoor concert, so why should they be at an Old Firm game with 50,000 in attendance? It’s time to tackle the scourge of pyrotechnics in Scottish football – once and for all.
Rethink tiny rise
John Swinney’s Budget was broadly positive and will move Scotland in the right direction if passed. Reversing Humza Yousaf’s affordable housing cuts was essential and will hopefully lead to new homes being built.
And the decision to abolish the horrible two-child benefit cap in 2026, while subject to DWP co-operation, is also welcome. But legitimate questions are being raised about the Budget’s lack of progress on child poverty for next year.
The SNP Government’s flagship policy is the £26.70-a-week Scottish Child Payment for low income families. It has provided lifeline support for vulnerable children and was Nicola Sturgeon’s best policy.
The issue is Swinney has chosen to increase the SCP by a miserly 45p a week, less than the current rate of inflation. Campaign groups are right to express disappointment and to repeat their calls for a £40-a-week SCP.
Swinney should rethink this tiny rise in the run up to next year’s Budget votes.
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