Calls for football chiefs to talk over plans to axe Offensive Behaviour Act

A Holyrood committee has said it is ''vital'' to hear in person from football chiefs as it scrutinises proposals to scrap the legislation that outlaws offensive behaviour at matches.

Conservative MSP Margaret Mitchell, convener of the Scottish Parliament's Justice Committee, has written to the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) and the Scottish Football Association (SFA) to voice disappointment that representatives are not so far lined up to attend an evidence session later this month.

She said their attendance would help committee members have ''the fullest possible understanding'' of the issues surrounding the impact of the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Act.

Holyrood's Justice Committee is examining Labour MSP James Kelly's Member's Bill to repeal the controversial Act.

The legislation was aimed at tackling sectarian behaviour around football matches and online, but opponents argue it is unnecessary in light of existing laws and unfairly targets football fans.

In separate letters to SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster and SFA chief executive Stewart Regan, Ms Mitchell notes that both bodies initially declined invitations to attend a committee session on November 14 and offered to attend at another time or give written evidence.

In the SFA letter, she wrote: ''However, the Justice Committee's work programme is incredibly busy, and the timetable for consideration of this Bill offers no leeway for an evidence session on another date.''

She went on: ''I am disappointed that a key stakeholder such as the SFA is not able to appear before the committee to provide committee members with the opportunity to question you on an issue as central to its work as offensive behaviour at football matches.''

She spoke of her disappointment in the same terms in the letter to the SPFL.

Ms Mitchell added that all committee members ''share the same view that it is vital to hear in person'' from the two bodies.

The SPFL and SFA have been contacted for comment.

A spokesman for the SPFL said: ''We have already offered to send an SPFL representative to the meeting and have been in discussions with the committee clerk to finalise arrangements.''