THE repeal of a controversial law designed to stamp out sectarian abuse at football matches has received Royal Assent and will official be scrapped from midnight.
It marks the first time an entire Act has been scrapped – with no legislation to replace it – since the Scottish Parliament was reconvened in 1999.
The Scotland's Offensive Behaviour at Football Act legislation was passed by the then-majority SNP government in 2011 in a bid to crack down on sectarianism.
But all four opposition parties argued for it to be scrapped, saying it unfairly targets football fans and has failed to tackle the problem.
Ministers argued the move was "foolhardy" but were outvoted by 62 to 60, and meant that the Football Act was to be taken off the statute book.
READ MORE: Historic moment for Scotland as controversial Football Act scrapped
Labour MSP James Kelly, who headed up the Scottish Parliament bid to repeal the law in the Scottish Parliament welcomed confirmation of the repeal of the Act.
He said: “Delighted that the Football Act repeal has received Royal Assent and that this unfair law comes to an end at midnight.
“A remarkable achievement by @FACKilltheBill & all who campaigned against this Act. It just shows what can be achieved with a well organised grass roots campaign.”
A Fans Against Criminalisation spokesman added: “Our deepest and heartfelt thanks to James Kelly MSP and his team and to every single person who supported the campaign and took action to defend yourself and your fellow fans.
Delighted that the Football Act repeal has received Royal Assent and that this unfair law comes to an end at midnight. A remarkable achievement by @FACKilltheBill & all who campaigned against this Act. It just shows what can be achieved with a well organised grass roots campaign. pic.twitter.com/J3kpFhI11A
— James Kelly MSP (@JamesKellyLab) April 19, 2018
“We hope this is a lesson to governments in the future not to underestimate the power and ingenuity of the football community. We did it!”
The Football Act has faced sustained criticism since it was voted into force by the SNP in 2011, when it still had a majority.
It came into force in 2012 following the Old Firm “shame game” between Rangers and Celtic in 2011.
It outlawed the singing of songs which "a reasonable person would be likely to consider offensive" and which "would be likely to incite public disorder".
The legislation deeply divided opinion from the start, with those who supported it saying it was needed to fight the scourge of sectarianism within Scottish football.
But opponents said the law treats football fans as "second class citizens", and is not needed as police and the courts already had sufficient powers to deal with offensive behaviour.
They also claimed that the law is badly worded, and therefore open to different interpretations of what is and is not "offensive behaviour".
It was the first piece of legislation passed at Holyrood with no cross-party support, and its repeal marks the first major reverse of any SNP legislation since it came into power in 2007.
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