Football banning orders strengthened in pitch invasion and pyro crackdown

Scottish courts are to be given tougher powers to impose football banning orders (FBOs) in a bid to improve safety and behaviour at matches.

The Scottish government said it wants to extend the orders to cover specific offences including the use of pyrotechnics, pitch invasions and throwing missiles.

It follows a consultation which drew more than 900 responses, with football bodies and Police Scotland backing wider use of the powers.

However, some supporters raised concerns about expanding banning orders and disputed suggestions that behaviour in stadiums is getting worse.

Banning orders were introduced in 2006, although their use has fallen in recent years.

They allow courts to restrict the ability of someone convicted of football violence or disorder to attend matches anywhere in the UK.

The Scottish Premiership title decider between Celtic and Hearts in May was marred by a large-scale pitch invasion at the end of the match.

Celtic apologised to Hearts after fans ran onto the pitch at the conclusion of their 3-1 win, which saw them crowned Premiership winners.

Hearts players left the stadium immediately after the match, later describing the atmosphere as "menacing and threatening".

Celtic were later fined £7,500 and given a suspended ticket ban over the incident.

The Glasgow club, along with fellow Premiership side Motherwell, newly-promoted Championship pair Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Stenhousemuir and League One side Hamilton Academical also received fines or suspended crowd reductions over pitch incursions in May.

Supporters and police officers were also injured after an Old Firm match in Glasgow when fans of both sides clashed on the pitch following a Scottish Cup tie in March.

Community safety minister Kirsten Oswald said recent high-profile incidents involving pitch invasions and the continued use of pyrotechnics showed the challenges the police, football authorities and clubs had to deal with.

She added: "The vast majority of football fans attend matches to support their team and are a credit to their clubs.

"However, a small minority are compromising the fan experience and the safety of players, officials and all in attendance through anti-social and criminal behaviour.

"Football is our national sport, and we want to make sure it is a safe and enjoyable environment for all and that is what we aim to achieve by introducing legislation."

Figures obtained by BBC Scotland News last year showed just five FBOs had been issued between August 2024 and February 2025.

That marked a drop off from 37 during the 2023/24 season and 59 in 2022/23.

An SPFL spokesman said: "The specific targeting of offences such as the use of pyrotechnics, pitch invasions and the throwing of missiles will help improve the safety of players, staff and supporters.

"While these incidents involve only a small minority of supporters, such behaviour puts everyone at risk and has no place in Scottish football.

"We will continue to work closely with the Scottish govenrment and other partners as this legislation progresses."