Ex First Minister Henry McLeish fears the cost of living crisis will fuel a surge in hooliganism at top flight football matches. Police were called to deal with incidents following Scottish Premiership and Championship games last weekend. Former Scottish Labour leader McLeish is concerned the violence is a sign of things to come as people struggle to cope with crippling economic pressures.
His warning comes as fans’ group chief Andy Smith urged supporters to be on their best behaviour amid concerns social unrest will spread to the terraces of football grounds. McLeish, hired by the SFA to investigate the state of football in Scotland in 2010, said "people could be seeking outlets for their anger and sadly one of them could be football".
He added: “There’s a degree of tension building up in society, at every level, and a degree of worry and fear about the future. It’s going to get much worse next year with inflation going up, the possibility of a recession with the threat of unemployment. This is unprecedented. I can’t recall a time, even in the ‘70s and ‘80s, when things were as bad as this.”
McLeish said: “There’s no doubt that’s putting pressure on families and individuals and it may well be putting pressure on a lot of people who go to football matches. The danger is that it could be expressed in hooliganism or bad behaviour. We are in uncharted waters in the UK.
"If people feel they’re being neglected and that their views, through traditional outlets, are not being listened to, then there’s a danger that you could slip back into using certain activities like football to vent that frustration.” It comes after officers were called to deal with two separate violent incidents involving fans last Friday and Saturday.
Balaclava-clad thugs smashed windows, attacked a barmaid and a teenager, spat on drinkers and caused thousands of pounds worth of damage to a bar in Kilmarnock. The carnage unfolded outside The Clansman pub in the town’s John Finnie Street just minutes after the Ayrshire side beat Motherwell 2-1 at Rugby Park on Saturday.
The pub criticised Motherwell fans for going on the rampage in a Facebook post about the incident. Another brawl between rival fans also took place in a nearby pub resulting in one supporter being injured and leaving him with a ripped shirt.
On Friday night, Ayr United fans fought with Dundee supporters in the streets outside he town’s Somerset Park after their 3-1 win over the visitors. Andy Smith, chairman of the Scottish Football Supporters’ Association, said: “I’m worried there will be a rise in incidents this season due to what’s going on elsewhere in society.
“Football is an outlet and some people have no other release. We are on the edge of civil disobedience. Anger, despair and a lack of control are a dangerous cocktail and football can be a spark. I am worried that people in Scotland are angrier than they have ever been.
“We’re all being affected negatively by relentless populism politics and our lack of control over the spiralling price rises of things we need to live like food and energy. Football and its fans reflect the state of society and there is deep and growing anger that needs an outlet.
“But supporters have to remember two things - we are all in this together, and away fans are guests and should behave and be treated as such.” Police Scotland said their enquiries into the disturbance in Kilmarnock were ongoing.
Chief Inspector Kevin Lammie confirmed officers attended a reported incident in Ayr. He added: “Police in South Ayrshire continue to work with Ayr United and travelling fans to ensure public safety surrounding football matches at Somerset Park. No crimes have been reported to police following Friday’s match.”
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