'Axe the Act' Scottish football fans criminals protest in Aberdeen, Scotland, UK Friday 11th April, 2014. Fans, football, soccer, sport, fan, game, team, supporter harassment, male, young, event, competition, people demonstrate outside SNP Spring Conference. A new campaign group, Fans Against Criminalisation, has been formed by Celtic fans to campaign against the first part of the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications Bill.
The Scotsman reports ; “FANS protesting against the controversial Offensive Behaviour at Football act at the SNP conference were hit with a restraining order “as soon as they stepped off the bus”, it has been claimed. Up to 25 campaigners waved banners and chanted songs condemning the act that they believe criminalises football supporters as Nationalist delegates held their spring con¬ference at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre yesterday. The legislation, designed to eradicate religious bigotry from the terraces, has been criticised for being too vague, while Celtic and Rangers supporters believe that they are being unfairly targeted. Organised by the Fans Against Criminalisation group, protesters held aloft banners urging the Scottish Government to “Axe The Act” and reportedly sang “SS SNP” in reference to the paramilitary organisation linked to the Nazi party in Germany. Police Scotland confirmed that restrictions on the protest had been enforced under Section 12 of Public Order Act at around 2pm. The order gives officers powers to constrain the route of a procession or prevent it from entering a public place. It has been claimed protesters were barred from entering a nearby McDonald’s restaurant as a result. He said: “Protesting is part of the democratic process and should take place at conferences. At the last Labour conference, there were Yes campaigners as well as a group complaining about a closure. There was no need for the police to get involved and, from what I hear, the protestors were served a notice as soon as they stepped off the bus.”
Size: 3550px × 2429px
Location: Aberdeen, Bridge of Don, Aberdeenshire, UK
Photo credit: © MediaWorldImages / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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