Desert Orchid
Senior Jockey
- Joined
- Aug 2, 2005
- Messages
- 25,043
I reckon the very good reputation of Scottish fans will be risked if this move is approved.
From today's Daily Record online:
BACK ON THE BEVVY
EXCLUSIVE
By Neil Cameron
SPL secretary Iain Blair last night revealed plans for a pilot scheme which would bring drinking back to Scottish football grounds.
Football authorities have studied the idea since it was announced Murrayfield was to be given a licence to serve alcohol at international rugby union matches. And Record Sport can reveal the vast majority of the top 12 clubs would welcome such an initiative.
Blair admitted he would be "disappointed" if a pilot scheme had not been introduced within a year to see if Scottish football was ready to allow drinking inside their grounds for the first time since the infamous Old Firm Scottish Cup Final of 1980.
A riot between Celtic and Rangers supporters on that fateful day led to a ban on alcohol at all grounds but for the first time since it appears clubs will be able to generate revenue from selling drink outwith corporate boxes.
Blair said: "I would be disappointed if there weren't experiments going on in a pilot basis where everybody clearly understands what the objective is in that time scale.
"If we can't even discuss it and experiment with it then that is a very disappointing indictment on Scottish culture.
"Let's find out if there are ways we can make it work in the modern football environment and, if there are, then great. Let's get on with it.
"The fact you can come along to Hampden to a Rod Stewart concert and the bars are constantly open, yet you come along to the same stadium to watch Scotland play Lithuania and there are no bars, well I'm not quite sure why there is a difference.
"I can understand it from the history of football because it was right to ban alcohol at the time. However, we have moved on in leaps and bounds since then.
"And what we are saying is we should look at the world as it is now, not as it was 30 years ago.
"There is absolutely no suggestion that spectators would be allowed to bring alcohol into the ground because of the potential risk that raises.
"But to allow adults to have a pint in designated areas seems relatively straightforward to me.
"There will be other views. I think there will be challenges and were it to be introduced, the supporters would need to clearly understand they are the ones who will decide whether this works or not."
It may be the case that a trial run could be used at an international match.
Blair added: "There is never any trouble at Scotland games and the fans certainly drink before going into Hampden, so why not?
"We shouldn't say no just because we have bad memories from incidents which happened 20-odd years ago."
Yes, 'we' still get blootered before games and fans travelling abroad, especially those of the national team and Celtic, go to party rather than seek trouble but I reckon the ban is a major factor in the improvement of behaviour at stadia.
I really hope I'm wrong and that it all works out fine.
From today's Daily Record online:
BACK ON THE BEVVY
EXCLUSIVE
By Neil Cameron
SPL secretary Iain Blair last night revealed plans for a pilot scheme which would bring drinking back to Scottish football grounds.
Football authorities have studied the idea since it was announced Murrayfield was to be given a licence to serve alcohol at international rugby union matches. And Record Sport can reveal the vast majority of the top 12 clubs would welcome such an initiative.
Blair admitted he would be "disappointed" if a pilot scheme had not been introduced within a year to see if Scottish football was ready to allow drinking inside their grounds for the first time since the infamous Old Firm Scottish Cup Final of 1980.
A riot between Celtic and Rangers supporters on that fateful day led to a ban on alcohol at all grounds but for the first time since it appears clubs will be able to generate revenue from selling drink outwith corporate boxes.
Blair said: "I would be disappointed if there weren't experiments going on in a pilot basis where everybody clearly understands what the objective is in that time scale.
"If we can't even discuss it and experiment with it then that is a very disappointing indictment on Scottish culture.
"Let's find out if there are ways we can make it work in the modern football environment and, if there are, then great. Let's get on with it.
"The fact you can come along to Hampden to a Rod Stewart concert and the bars are constantly open, yet you come along to the same stadium to watch Scotland play Lithuania and there are no bars, well I'm not quite sure why there is a difference.
"I can understand it from the history of football because it was right to ban alcohol at the time. However, we have moved on in leaps and bounds since then.
"And what we are saying is we should look at the world as it is now, not as it was 30 years ago.
"There is absolutely no suggestion that spectators would be allowed to bring alcohol into the ground because of the potential risk that raises.
"But to allow adults to have a pint in designated areas seems relatively straightforward to me.
"There will be other views. I think there will be challenges and were it to be introduced, the supporters would need to clearly understand they are the ones who will decide whether this works or not."
It may be the case that a trial run could be used at an international match.
Blair added: "There is never any trouble at Scotland games and the fans certainly drink before going into Hampden, so why not?
"We shouldn't say no just because we have bad memories from incidents which happened 20-odd years ago."
Yes, 'we' still get blootered before games and fans travelling abroad, especially those of the national team and Celtic, go to party rather than seek trouble but I reckon the ban is a major factor in the improvement of behaviour at stadia.
I really hope I'm wrong and that it all works out fine.
