Police chief urges closed-door matches to stop thugs

games behind – Chief Superintendent Rob Hay has called for games to be played behind closed doors as a way to hit football disorder where it hurts, saying current criminal sanctions fail to deter violent fans. The remarks come amid fallout from recent clashes involving Celti

A senior police chief is calling for football matches to be played behind closed doors, arguing that existing criminal sanctions are failing to deter thuggish behaviour.

Chief Superintendent Rob Hay said clubs should face a crackdown after years of disorder at games, insisting that the scale of the problem demands “footballing solutions”. His comments landed in a widening row over policing and accountability in Scotland’s biggest fixtures.

The debate intensified after Chief Constable Jo Farrell said dozens of officers had been diverted from investigating serious crimes such as domestic abuse to hunt for fans responsible for disorder. Farrell later warned that trouble connected to football was escalating and becoming “a significant public safety issue”. adding: “We cannot look towards another season of this mayhem.”.

The latest push also follows anti-social behaviour at high-profile matches. including Celtic vs Rangers clashes in the Scottish Cup and the Premiership title decider between Celtic and Hearts. There was also trouble at the Scottish Cup quarter-final at Ibrox in March, when Rangers and Celtic fans clashed.

Justice Secretary Neil Gray said football thuggery was carried out by a “minority”. while praising the commanders leading operations and “those officers serving on the front line”. Scottish Tory justice spokesman Stephen Kerr. meanwhile. said: “Police officers should never face violence simply for doing their job. and anyone responsible for attacking them must be identified. prosecuted. and face the full force of the law.”.

Kerr added that the Scottish Government has a responsibility to ensure police have the resources they need to stop “these disgraceful scenes” being repeated, warning that after years of SNP cuts Police Scotland is overstretched, with “over 1,000 fewer officers than before the pandemic”.

Hay. president of the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents (ASPS). argued the system cannot keep relying on officers to absorb the cost. “Of course. we can pour more and more resources into policing games. stripping communities of police officers. in order to support a multi-million pound business. ” he said. “Or instead. we can ensure those businesses discharge the same duty of care as any other would to patrons attending their premises.”.

He said criminal justice outcomes lack “immediacy and severity” and do not provide deterrence in their current form. “Footballing problems demand footballing solutions,” Hay said, before spelling out his preferred punishment model. “Points docked, matches forfeited and games played behind closed doors will soon lead to effective self-policing amongst fans.”.

Hay argued that sanctions like closed-door fixtures are “free to the taxpayer” and ensure the “polluter pays”. He also called for “new legislation (that will need to be policed) and new bans (that will need to be enforced)”.

The disagreement isn’t confined to punishment. Farrell said policing has a “strong part to play in football”. but added that accountability and ownership are lacking around the game in Scotland. She said disorder. violence and thuggery is “unchecked” and is allowed to be shrugged off. while stressing that the SFA and SPFL need to strengthen their regulatory framework. She also pointed to the need for clarity with the public. clubs and fans about what sanctions will follow events such as pitch invasions.

At the heart of the discussion is what happens next after the worst recent incidents. It is understood the SFA has commissioned an independent report into disorder at the Scottish Cup quarter-final between Rangers and Celtic at Ibrox. and that the report should be published within the next two weeks.

In parallel. the Scottish Police Federation chairman David Threadgold. representing rank-and-file officers. said in May that the only change that would “truly impact” violent troublemakers would be removing points or expelling teams from cups—because it creates a “tangible impact” on what supporters care about. He told the Scottish Daily Mail: “The only thing that will truly impact on the minority of people who are intent on creating disorder is a removal of points if it’s a league fixture. or expulsion from a cup competition. I have no doubt that will change the behaviour of the minority of people who intend causing violence because they know now there will be a tangible impact on the thing they love the most — and that is their football team.”.

An SPFL spokesman said there is a need for all stakeholders to work together to address “unacceptable conduct at matches. including pitch encroachments and pyrotechnic use”. The spokesman added that the SPFL has engaged fully in the Scottish Government’s consultation on football banning orders and is awaiting next steps.

Rangers and Celtic were contacted for comment.

Taken together. the proposals and the complaints form a single sharp question at the centre of Scotland’s football policing crisis: if criminal sanctions aren’t hitting hard enough. who takes responsibility—and how quickly—when violence breaks out in stadiums built for entertainment rather than confrontation?.

Scottish football Police Scotland Rob Hay Jo Farrell Rangers Celtic behind closed doors pitch invasions football banning orders Scottish Cup Premiership title decider Scottish Police Federation