Scottish FA continue talks to tackle coin-throwing and abuse

The Scottish Football Association will seek further talks with Scottish Government and police officials in a bid to tackle a spate of "unacceptable'' incidents.

The SFA released a statement after Kilmarnock manager Steve Clarke accused Rangers fans of "living in the Dark Ages'' after he was subjected to sectarian abuse during his team's William Hill Scottish Cup defeat at Ibrox on Wednesday night.

The controversy came days after Kilmarnock captain Kris Boyd was struck with a coin and subjected to sectarian abuse by Celtic supporters.

There have been a series of coin-throwing incidents this season and SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell had already held high-level talks about the issue.

Maxwell said in a statement: "The Scottish FA condemns in the strongest possible terms the spate of incidents this season involving unacceptable conduct in Scottish football.

"This season we have witnessed match officials and players hit by coins, sectarian singing at matches and abusive and threatening behaviour towards match officials, players, managers and coaching staff.

"This behaviour is completely unacceptable and simply has no place in football, or indeed Scottish society.

"Football has a responsibility to take action. We must do all that we can under our current rules and engage with clubs to seek to eradicate such behaviour.

"This issue, however, is not one that football can solve on its own.''

Maxwell revealed he had recently met Scottish Professional Football League counterpart Neil Doncaster, Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf, sports minister Joe Fitzpatrick and Police Scotland Assistant Chief Constable Bernie Higgins to find ways of dealing with unacceptable conduct.

He added: "We will seek further discussions in light of the most recent events to maintain the momentum for change.''

However, there has been criticism over the way Scottish football has dealt with sectarianism.

Clubs voted against the introduction of strict liability - which would make them liable for their supporters' behaviour - at an SFA general meeting in 2013 and action from the football authorities is extremely rare.

David Scott, campaign director of anti-sectarian charity Nil By Mouth, told BBC Radio Scotland: "Scottish football has failed for generations to tackle sectarianism.

"Clubs, particularly the Old Firm clubs, invest hundreds of thousands of pounds in very sophisticated software and CCTV footage where you can identify people.

"So what you have here is a reluctance to actually pursue this because you could be talking about hundreds of people, whole stands, singing and chanting.

"Police can't wade in and make arrests, which is why we are brought back again and again to the elephant in football's room of strict liability, which is a European model for tackling this type of behaviour that holds the clubs responsible for consistent failures to tackle this issue.

"What we have seen in Scottish football, particularly it has to be said from the Old Firm clubs, is a complete washing of hands and saying 'this is nothing to do with us, this is society's problem and we can't solve it'. Even though we are creating an environment where people feel they can go to matches and behave in this manner.

"You would not behave in this manner in your workplace, although some sadly do, I know that from my own work. You wouldn't behave in that manner in communities without sanction.

"So why do we allow this permissive environment in football to go on? It's simply because the clubs and football authorities do not have the bottle, the backbone, the spine to do something about it.''

Celtic this week vowed to take "appropriate action'' against anyone identified of being involved in the Rugby Park incidents, while Rangers stated after Wednesday's game that everything would be done to eradicate unacceptable behaviour

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