Johnny Foreigner

In all the column inches that have been written about new measures to tackle sectarianism in Scottish football - one thing escapes me.

How come an organisation like UEFA - the European football authority - is able so easily to identify and punish sectarian singing at football matches involving Scottish clubs?

Yet some of our own home-grown organisations and political commentators - wring their hands and say this is such a terribly difficult subject - and one that potentially tramples all over people's human rights. 

In recent times, Europe's footballing authorities have come down hard on Scottish clubs - notably Celtic and Rangers - for their fans' singing sectarian songs which are outlawed at home and abroad.

And for the most part the clubs have accepted their punishment - because they know that they are bang to rights - as far as the behaviour of a minority of their fans is concerned.

The new law is an attempt to deal with a problem which has plagued Scotland for years - and it's about confronting tribal and bigoted behaviour that oversteps the mark.

The aim is not to stop football fans having fun or 'noising up' their rivals - but to send a message that football is a game, a sporting contest - which people are entitled to attend and support their own side - without coming under a hate-filled and venomous attack from rival fans.

Now how you single out the individuals or groups who are causing the problem is a difficult task - especially when they take cover amongst thousands of other fans.

But that's why all the hand-wringing should stop - because if UEFA can cut to the chase and deal effectively with the issue - surely reasonable people in Scotland can do the same without getting their knickers in such a twist.

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