Facial recognition- a new low for Scottish football?

I don’t know what was more depressing- a bizarre and totally impractical ‘facial recognition’ idea being discussed by the SPFL or the lack of criticism of the idea from any of the 42 clubs that met at Hampden yesterday.

The notion was leaked to the STV website early in the afternoon then confirmed later on as those involved in the SPFL emerged to confirm the plan which would involve Scottish Government support of around £4m.

With widespread public spending cuts the prospects are slim to remote of £4m being granted to a body that is wholly unconvincing in almost everything it does. The precise nature of yesterday’s meeting is unknown with no minutes or summary published on the SPFL website.

Simon Barrow, Chairman of the Scottish Football Supporters Association (SFSA) said: “The SFSA would be concerned at a rushed move towards intrusive surveillance. There needs to be careful consultation with fans and clubs, alongside wider consideration of how to deal effectively and proportionately with threatening and insulting behaviour. The best ways forward will involve working with the great majority of supporters who deplore such abuses, rather than making them feel under accusation themselves.”

The ‘architect’ of ‘facial recognition technology’ seems to be keeping a low profile with the cynical suspecting that it is another deflection exercise as the football governing bodies avoid punishing Sevco or their fans for the continued singing of the anti-catholic hate song The Billy Boys.

In 2006 UEFA banned that song and informed the SFA to enforce the ban. In February at Hampden during the League Cup semi-final thousands were singing the song without punishment, on December 28 at Ibrox, with 33,000 season ticket holders present the same hate song was bellowed out from all four stands at Ibrox. There has been no official comment from either the SFA or SPFL on the matter.

The practicalities of facial recognition seem off the radar. With thousands of supporters pouring towards turnstiles, often in darkness- how on earth can they come up with a system that takes a picture which then runs through a database before entry is permitted?

Just as importantly is the human rights element. Football supporters are already the most scrutinised members of society, and easily identified. Having your face pictured and recorded before going to watch a run of the mill Celtic v Hamilton match may be one intrusion too far for many supporters.

Rather than dream up outrageous and unproven ideas the SPFL ought to deal with the issues head on.

Since being welcomed into senior football in 2012 Sevco haven’t said a single word to their supporters about singing The Billy Boys. After three days of praising fans after the match against Hibs they noted on their website their disappointment about some inappropriate singing from a minority of fans.

No action has been made public about any punishment of those involved despite Closed Circuit TV and 33,000 season ticket holders that are easy to identify. It seems that they’ve not been disappointed enough into taking any action against the thousands involved.

If the SPFL were serious about the issue they would insist on the club announcing before every match that the song is wrong and banned. A video message from a first team player before every match would go down a treat alongside a warning in the match programme and website. The current silence on the matter lends credibility to the idea that it’s a matter of token interest. Silence speaks volumes.

Closing down a section of 1000 seats the next time that the song is heard would be a start, a section in the middle of either of the four stands.

Ideas like facial recognition when there is CCTV and BT Sports coverage from a match looks very much like a deflection tactic. Facial recognition of the architect of this plan and an overhaul of those dancing around the subject would serve Scottish football far better than another unproven hair-brained scheme.