Pub bosses could lose their licences unless they take precautions to prevent football-related disorder, a legal expert has warned.
A new law tackling offensive behaviour comes in to force on Thursday, putting publicans who show live televised football matches under increased pressure to help prevent violence and unruly behaviour.
The controversial Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Act has been introduced to tackle bigotry, sectarianism and other unacceptable behaviour related to sporting events.
Licence expert Frances Ennis, of law firm McGrigors, said there was great confusion over what landlords and pub managers are expected to do, and believes publicans will need to be more proactive in managing situations which could escalate into violence.
Ms Ennis said: ”As a consequence of the Act, publicans will be expected to intervene if they witness persons behaving in a way likely to lead to public disorder.
”Offences can be committed in or on the way to premises showing a regulated football match on TV, and pubs will clearly come into that bracket.
”If there are reports of heavy drinking in pubs prior to a major match and that is subsequently followed by behaviour which contravenes the Act, then the police or the licensing board have the power to call the premises in for review, and in some cases that would almost inevitably lead to a loss of licence.”
The first real test of the Act could come as soon as March 25 when Rangers take on Celtic in the Old Firm derby and Strathclyde Police are said to have already instigated talks with the SPL about how policing might be handled if Celtic were to clinch the title at Ibrox.
The 1000-member Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA) backed McGrigors claims the law will lead to great confusion amongst the pub trade.
SLTA chief executive Paul Waterson said: ”The legislation is very unclear, there is no guidance on how it should be implemented and there is genuine concern and confusion in the trade as to what publicans should do to avoid falling foul of the law.”