This worthless Act claims its first 2 scalps; Two men have become the first football supporters in Scotland to be convicted and sentenced under new offensive behaviour at football legislation. Andrew Whitson, 28, and Paul Swan, 39, both from East Lothian, admitted singing racially-offensive songs on a train from Ayr to Glasgow on Saturday. Whitson was fined £180 and Swan £200. They were also given a one-year football banning order. The Offensive Behaviour at Football Bill came into force on 1 March 2012. Guilty pleas Whitson and and Swan were returning from the Ayr v Hibs Scottish Cup quarter final match on the 18:13 train when they committed the offence. They were arrested after officers from British Transport Police (BTP) observed them singing songs of a racially derogative nature. Whitson, from Longniddry, and Swan, from Tranent, pleaded guilty when they appeared from custody at Glasgow Sheriff Court. Following the case, Ch Supt Ellie Bird, BTP commander for the Scotland area, said: "These convictions and sentences send out a clear message that this sort of behaviour and criminality has no place in society and certainly not on our rail network."
I suppose now that they have convicted fans of smaller clubs [no offence meant], they can soon concentrate on their main targets.
2-3 people singing sectarian songs on a train: arrest them. 20-30 people singing sectarian songs on a train: stand by and do nothing. 2,000-3,000 people singing sectarian songs in a stadium: pretend it isn't happening.
