A Dundee academic has called on Old Firm supporters to unite to defeat a bill that proposes to outlaw sectarian singing at football matches.
Abertay University criminology and sociology lecturer Dr Stuart Waiton has already given evidence to the Scottish Parliament’s justice committee about the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Bill.
He has described it as a “snob’s law” (link) that would make unpleasant behaviour at football matches a crime and said the anti-sectarian legislation is a draconian assault on free speech. Now he is urging Celtic and Rangers fans to work together.
Celtic fans group the Green Brigade protested before the game against Inverness Caledonian Thistle on Sunday.
Dr Waiton said: “The Green Brigade rightly called on all Celtic fans to take a stand against the disproportionate policing of supporters at games. They are right to call for this.
“Celtic fans are already being arrested and charged for little more than singing songs and if the Offensive Behaviour Bill goes through the likelihood is that policing will become more intense.
“Many Celtic fans, and especially the Green Brigade, believe that their songs are political, not sectarian, and should not be targeted by the police but that is not the point. The point is that no fan should be imprisoned for singing regardless of what the song is about.”
Dr Waiton said Rangers fans should join their traditional rivals in opposing the bill.
He said: “Tolerance does not mean we are ‘non-judgemental’. It is all about judging. We should say what we think about one another, about what their fans and what our own fans are saying.
“That is what a free, tolerant society is all about. Genuine tolerance means we judge, say what we think, but also accept that others who we disagree with must also have that freedom without the threat of arrest.
“If Rangers and Celtic supporters, bloggers and associations came out in support not of their own right to sing what they like, but their opponents’ right to do so the case against the Bill would be strengthened immeasurably.
“There are two options open to Celtic and Rangers fans and associations: either tolerate one another, while hating each other if you so wish, and defeat this bill and start to change the way football fans are being targeted and criminalised or remain in your shell, defend yourself and give two fingers to your ‘enemy’ and watch as the Bill is passed and football fans across Scotland are regulated and imprisoned.”