SCOTTISH ministers have said football authorities should introduce measures to ensure they can take "meaningful action" over disorder at football matches.
Their call for procedural change comes after raising concern that Hibs and Rangers were left in the clear over paying for the damage to Hampden caused by May's Scottish Cup Final riot.
The rejection of strict liability rules to tackle fan misbehaviour was a major factor as a judicial panel dismissed a Scottish Football Association complaint that called for the clubs to cover the cost of the destruction at the national stadium.
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Hibs triumphed 3-2 to win the Scottish Cup for the first time in 114 years on May 21, but the post match celebrations were marred by scenes of crowd disorder, a pitch invasion and damage to goalposts, corner flags, seats and advertising hoardings.
Hibs, in welcoming the decision confirmed it has paid a sum, so far undisclosed, to cover for damage to the pitch.
The independent judicial panel decision had meant that neither club were obliged to pay a penny for the the damage caused at Hampden.
The main decision to reject the pursuit of Hibs for damage to the ground, meant the SFA case against Rangers was withdrawn.
The Scottish Government wants Scottish football's governing bodies to resolve the anomalies that meant that Scottish football's governing body were unable to take action over the disorder.
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Meanwhile Celtic were fined over £8500 by UEFA, European football's governing body for fans waving Palestinian flags during the club's 5-2 home Champions League victory over Israeli side Hapoel Be'er Sheva in August.
UEFA viewed the flags as illicit banners under article 16 of its disciplinary regulations and at a disciplinary hearing the complaint against the Scottish champions was upheld and the club was fined.
The Scottish Government said that it has not set view on how football authorities should tackle disorder in football grounds.
"We do, however, expect any measures put in place to be robust, transparent with a strong element of independence," said a Scottish Government spokesman.
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"When unacceptable conduct or disorder takes place, those measures should allow the football authorities to take meaningful action."
He added: “The disorder that marred the Scottish Cup Final was unacceptable and we are disappointed by the outcome. It is essential that robust, meaningful measures are in place to allow such behaviour to be dealt with effectively.
“Independent research shows that fans overwhelmingly support the goal of eradicating offensive behaviour from matches. We have been clear that we will take steps if the progress we need to see isn’t being made. Our preference remains that football should proactively deliver a solution and we are continuing to working closely with the authorities and clubs to encourage them to do so.”
A report by Sheriff Principal Edward Bowen QC into the disorder suggested a reserve of police should be ready to deal with possible pitch invasions in high profile matches and said new laws should be brought in to make pitch invasion a criminal offence.
More than 70 Rangers and Hibs supporters have so far been arrested for violence on the pitch, with Rangers players Wes Foderingham and Andy Halliday among those assaulted by rival fans.
The clubs were alleged to have breached a disciplinary rule which states "damage was sustained to Hampden... as a consequence of misbehaviour by supporters".
The panel unanimously dismissed the complaint as "irrelevant" and said the rejection of strict liability rules was a factor in the decision.
Strict liability, allows for clubs to be punished for the conduct of its fans regardless of whether the club itself is to blame. It is used by Uefa for European competitions but in the past the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) clubs have voted against its introduction.
Sanctions under strict liability include warnings, fines, annulment of the result of a match, order that a match be replayed, the closure of sections of grounds, playing matches behind closed doors and the docking of points."
The panel also say the "decision is without prejudice to the right of the SFA to seek reparation or restitution".
The SFA had claimed the surface of the pitch, a set of goal posts and parts of the LED advertising system had been damaged by Hibs fans.
Rangers supporters also stood accused of damaging advertising equipment and advertising hoardings situated at the perimeter of the pitch.
The Hibernian Supporters Association has been raising £4,733 to pay for damage to the goalposts, corner flags, pitch and seats and in eight days has raised over £1500.
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