SPFL respond as Scottish Government pledge to expand Football Banning Orders despite fan resistance

The Scottish Professional Football League has welcomed a pledge from the Scottish Government to expand the use of football banning orders (FBOs) despite resistance from fans in a consultation.

Ministers sought views on the effectiveness of FBOs two decades after they were first introduced – barring supporters from all licensed games in the UK if convicted of “violence or disorder” related to football.

But following changes in fan behaviour – including the use of pyrotechnics – and recent high-profile pitch invasions, the Government has confirmed it plans to expand the powers given to judges to impose the orders.

Football Banning Orders (FBOs) in Scotland are to be expanded to include the use of pyrotechnics, pitch invasions and throwing of missiles. | SNS Group

The announcement comes despite an organised campaign by fans to block the move.

In the consultation, the Government asked respondents if FBOs should be extended, with 76 per cent of the 886 people and organisations who responded saying they should not.

Football organisations – including clubs and bodies such as the Scottish FA and SPFL – overwhelmingly back expansion, as do those who identified themselves as police officers or staff.

Under the plans, offences such as the use of pyrotechnics, invasion of the pitch or throwing a missile at a football game would become grounds for a banning order to be imposed.

Victims minister Kirsten Oswald said: “The vast majority of football fans attend matches to support their team and are a credit to their clubs. However, a small minority are compromising the fan experience and the safety of players, officials and all in attendance through anti-social and criminal behaviour.

“Recent high profile incidents involving pitch invasions and the continued use of pyrotechnics demonstrate the challenges the police, football authorities and clubs face and have to deal with.

“This is why we will give courts more effective powers through football banning orders to target dangerous and abusive behaviour.

“Football is our national sport, and we want to make sure it is a safe and enjoyable environment for all and that is what we aim to achieve by introducing legislation.”

Celtic fans on the pitch at full time after the winning the title on the final day of the Premiership season against Hearts. (Photo by Paul Devlin / SNS Group) | SNS Group

Celtic were last month given a suspended seat reduction and a fine of £7,500 due to hundreds of their supporters invading the pitch following their Premiership title win on the final day of the season against Hearts. Rangers, Hibs, Aberdeen and Motherwell were also sanctioned by the SPFL for supporter disorder last season.

A spokesman for the SPFL said: “The specific targeting of offences such as the use of pyrotechnics, pitch invasions and the throwing of missiles will help improve the safety of players, staff and supporters.

“While these incidents involve only a small minority of supporters, such behaviour puts everyone at risk and has no place in Scottish football. We will continue to work closely with the Scottish Government and other partners as this legislation progresses.”

But in response to the consultation, fans said there was no evidence an extension would lead to a reduction in violence and disorder and could act as a deterrent for supporters to go to games.

Such a move, the campaign response said, “may have the effect of creating an atmosphere of oppressive surveillance to the detriment and financial stability of football clubs due to loss of match day revenue”.

Providing greater powers to judges, it added, could encourage an increase in police use of stop and search powers.