SCOTTISH grassroots football could risk losing up to £4m a year in government financial support if professional clubs don’t “get their house in order”. On the day Sheriff Edward Bowen was appointed to chair an independent commission into the disorder that followed the recent Scottish Cup final at Hampden, Michael Mathieson, the justice secretary, addressed the Scottish Football Association’s annual meeting at Glasgow City Chambers and warned that the Scottish Government would intervene if football could not deliver a “transparent and robust scheme to prevent unacceptable conduct, and deal with it effectively if it does occur”.
There has been long-standing resistance in Scottish football to follow UEFA’s lead and introduce “strict liability” where clubs are held responsible for the actions of supporters and face potential sanctions including fines, ground closures or points docked in the event of fan disorder. Grassroots football receives around £4m each year from various schemes such as Cashback for Communities and Sportscotland funding and that money could be at risk if a more proactive stance from clubs to tackle anti-social behaviour is not forthcoming.
“The government have made it clear to us for some time that football needs to get its house in order and it is an issue for football,” said Stewart Regan, the SFA chief executive. “Unacceptable behaviour inside football grounds is a matter for the football authorities to deal with and we have made progress, including today's resolution approval [that makes it mandatory for clubs to pursue those who engage in unacceptable conduct after a match, identify them where possible and then take appropriate disciplinary action].
“But as far as the government is concerned it is not moving quickly enough and it is not delivering the outcomes that they would like to see. They want stronger punishments and very visible sanctions and we have got to try to come up with a solution that the members will ultimately vote through.”
Asked if the grassroots money could be at risk if clubs do not come up with such a scheme, Regan replied: “Based on what the government have fed back to us then yes.”
Regan, meanwhile, has offered his support to Rod Petrie after a section of the Rangers support called for the Hibs chairman to resign from both the Easter Road club and as SFA vice-president following comments made in the immediate aftermath of the cup final.
Regan, though, said: “Rod has been a valued vice-president of the Scottish FA for a number of years. He’s worked tirelessly on Scottish football matters. I've got no issue with Rod Petrie as a vice-president."
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