This week, MSPs have voted to repeal Offensive Behaviour at Football Act, winning but only by 2 votes. The act has been covered by controversy since its beginnings.

The Act was considered unnecessary as the police already has the powers to arrest people over the behaviour that was being used and it was conserved to unfairly target football supporters. In 2013, Sheriff Richard Davidson, said of the Act: “Somehow the word mince comes to mind” as it was often argued that the legalisation was poorly drafted and no one truly knew what offensive behaviour meant.

Recently, Brian McConnachie QC said: “The act turns the police from being the custodians of public order to officers looking to discover the crime of offensive behaviour.” This move has come with great support as the act was never used properly and many solicitors and sheriffs did not give it much standing.