Y is for Yob Culture
A recent one this, and a worrying one.
Whether it’s the throwing of coins or other objects, bringing flares into the grounds, the singing of racist and sectarian songs, attacks on rival players, fans, managers or officials, there is more of this in the game than ever before.
Events at Hearts – Hibs recently should have been a catalyst for real changes but it didn’t happen any more than it did after the Scottish Cup Final of 2016.
Yobbish behaviour is not unusual in Scottish football, but back in the old days it was at least tackled by the governing bodies, the police and the clubs themselves. That doesn’t happen any longer, and the SFA hides behind its regulations which pretty much absolve clubs of any blame for their supporters do, whether that’s throwing things or rioting on the pitch.
The consequences of this look likely to be paid by all of us; if football cannot police itself then the government has made it clear that they’ll do the job instead, with the passage of Strict Liability laws which force action on everybody.
