Humza Yousaf must explain why Scottish football authorities have been “left in the dark” over the enforcement of his hate crime law.
The Daily Record today reported that there were no talks between the SNP government and footballing bosses ahead of the legislation being enforced on Monday.
They also claimed that no new guidelines have been issued by the police ahead of this weekend’s fixtures, which include Rangers v Celtic at Ibrox.
The revelations add to concerns that Police Scotland is unprepared, with around 6,000 officers yet to be trained in the legislation and almost 4,000 complaints made to the force in the first 24 hours of it being in place.
Shadow justice secretary Russell Findlay says that “out-of-touch” Humza Yousaf and the SNP “imposed their dangerous new law without talking to people in the real world”.
Scottish Conservative shadow justice secretary Russell Findlay MSP said:“Humza Yousaf and his SNP colleagues arrogantly dismiss serious concerns about their dangerous hate crime law, wrongly saying that it’s only of interest in the ‘Holyrood bubble’.
“Try telling that to Scotland’s football authorities, clubs, fans, and police officers who have been left in the dark and must somehow deal with Yousaf’s monumental mess. This is already looking like the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act all over again.
“It is ridiculous for the SNP to impose this complex and contentious new law without talking to people in the real world. They have had three years to get round the table but failed to do so.
“If the out-of-touch First Minister refuses to bin his hate crime law, at the very least he needs to start showing the footballing authorities some respect and explain exactly how it will impact on our national game.”
Notes: The Daily Record story is here: https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/hate-crime-law-latest-rangers-32506116
The Herald reported that a third of Police Scotland officers had not yet completed training on the Hate Crime Act: https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/24222983.third-police-scotland-officers-not-yet-hate-crime-training/