Football News: Almost half of Scottish football's sectarian court cases end in acquittals.

Image from: w655.wrzuta.pl

Figures released today show that almost half of people taken to court under the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Act 2012, designed to stamp out sectarian abuse at football matches, were acquitted.

The controversial laws criminalise threatening behaviour including offensive singing or chanting at football matches as well as threats posted online or made through the post.

During season 2013/14 there was action taken taken against a total of 161 people with 74 (48%) cases returning not guilty outcomes. The majority of those cases, 154, were prosecuted for offensive behaviour at matches.

The previous year there were proceedings against 91 people under the same part of the Act, with 25 (27%) people acquitted.

Written by Mark B Jamieson December 16 2014 16:39:20