THE Scottish government has condemned the widespread use of pyrotechnics at the Viaplay Cup final as “unacceptable” and expressed confidence increased police powers will help to tackle the escalating problem.
Fans of both Celtic and Rangers set off flares, smoke bombs and strobes as the Glasgow clubs played at Hampden on Sunday - and rockets were even fired in the direction of the pitch during the second-half.
A video showing one balaclava-clad Celtic supporter holding a six foot long pole with a device on the end of it shooting fireworks towards the park as stewards who were standing just yards away looked on was posted on Twitter this week and provoked outrage.
MSPs at Holyrood passed the Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Act 2022 – which enables police officers to search anyone who they believe may be carrying pyrotechnic devices outside of a ground without warrant – back in June.
However, further legislation is required before the act comes fully into force and the government spokesman stressed they are working to push this through amid growing concern about the potential danger to supporters, players, stewards and officials.
“The scenes witnessed were unacceptable,” he said. “No one should be at risk of harm from the misuse of pyrotechnic articles.
“It is already a criminal offence to take, or attempt to take, pyrotechnics, including fireworks, into football stadiums.
“The Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Act 2022 will provide Police Scotland with further measures to deter and prevent their use.
“The new pyrotechnic possession offences require further legislation before they can commence in full and work is underway to take this forward as a priority.”
Meanwhile, the MSP who has campaigned for the introduction of strict liability in this country for the past seven years has claimed that Scottish government legislation is the only way to curb the illegal use of pyrotechnics at football matches.
James Dornan, the SNP MSP for Glasgow Cathcart, was horrified when he saw the number of flares, smokes bombs, strobes and rockets which were set off by fans of both Celtic and Rangers at the Viaplay Cup final at Hampden, which is located in his constituency, on Sunday.
Dornan, who tabled a draft proposal at Holyrood for a bill which would make clubs strictly liable for their supporters’ conduct in 2016, has written to the SFA, SPFL and Police Scotland about the scenes he witnessed in the match.
However, he stated that he has no faith in the senior clubs or governing bodies addressing a problem which is on the rise across the country and revealed that he will be urging the government to take steps to do so.
“It is something that football clubs, governing bodies and even supporters should be doing everything that they can to get rid of," he said. "I am in the process of writing to all of the appropriate bodies, the police, the SPFL, the SFA and others about this issue.
“But I am going to be pushing the government on things they need to do because you can guarantee the clubs and the governing bodies will not do anything unless they are forced into it. They have shown that.
“The Scottish parliament was told in the last session that there weren’t the legal powers to push it (strict liability) through. But I have started pushing the government more and more to take this seriously.
“Because what will happen eventually is that one of those rockets that the clown at Hampden on Sunday was setting off from the end of a six foot-long pole will go into somebody’s face. Then everybody will be up in arms and will say: ‘How did we let this occur?’
“I will also be writing to both Keith (justice secretary Brown) and Maree (minister for sport Todd). The government have to say: ‘This is unacceptable and if the SFA or SPFL haven’t sorted this out within a very definitive timescale we will be taking legislative action’. That is the only way that it can be addressed in my view.”
