Scotland’s football authorities are planning to resist new FIFA regulations covering racist (and sectarian) actions in domestic matches.
Following the controversy at the recent Bulgaria v England European Championship match there is a new focus on the authorities to be tough in their dealings with racist matters.
FIFA has now decided to share the spotlight with domestic associations, asking them to implement the three step rules which would see matches stopped and warnings given. If a third incident occurs during a match the referee will abandon the game.
Twice this season the club from Ibrox has been found guilty of racist actions by UEFA but in their seven year history they have never even been charged by the SFA, SPFL or SFL despite anti-Irish chants heard at virtually every fixture.
Covering the new development from FIFA the BBC reports:
Sectarian and racist chanting at football matches in Scotland could lead to games being abandoned if the game’s world governing body gets its way.
Fifa has written to the Scottish FA, and all other national associations, asking them to implement their new zero tolerance approach to such behaviour.
Scotland’s football authorities will resist doing so in full. But plans are being finalised that would see clubs face tougher punishment than currently in Scottish Cup matches. The SPFL were not willing to comment about how Fifa’s intervention might apply to other domestic competitions.
[ad_pod id=”rezonence”]
The report adds:
“Part of that is to discuss and determine how best to incorporate Fifa’s Disciplinary Code – and its permitted modifications within the domestic game – into Scottish football,” added a Scottish FA statement.
“We have written to our members to inform them of a review of our policy and process with regard to the relevant disciplinary rules in the context of the William Hill Scottish Cup. This review has occurred in light of Fifa’s updated disciplinary code and the increased domestic focus on unacceptable conduct.”
This weekend two Betfred Cup semi-finals will be televised live with supporters harder to identify since they are not in their season-ticket sales.
The prospect of an all Glasgow final in December will put the issue firmly in the spotlight and the lack of action taken by the Scottish authorities.
