Murphy Backs Stadium Drinking Trial

"Working-class'' football fans should be allowed to drink in the stadium before the match, according to Scottish Labour's new leader.

Jim Murphy has attacked the "class mentality'' in Scottish sport which permits "middle-class'' spectators to drink at rugby and in the corporate hospitality box at football matches while "working-class'' spectators have been cut off.

The teetotal MP has acknowledged that Scotland has "an unhealthy relationship with alcohol'' but said it has moved on from the violence of the 1980s.

Mr Murphy, a Celtic season ticket holder and football historian, joins a growing chorus of influential voices calling for alcohol to return to matches.

SFA chief executive Stewart Regan insists Scotland is now "a responsible nation'' while sport promoter Barry Hearn described the ban as "archaic''.

But Justice Secretary Michael Matheson said earlier this month that he has "no plans to reintroduce alcohol to football stadiums''.