A near fatal incident at Celtic Park last year has paved the way for a new Scottish football supporters survey.
The National reports that football fans are to be asked for their views on the policing of matches. The survey, a first of its kind, follows on from a recommendation made in the Independent Review of Football Policing in Scotland report which was commissioned following the crush at Celtic Park in September 2018.
Police ordered the review just weeks after the incident prior to the Celtic-Rangers match when fans were injured following the closure of a gate outside the stadium.
The report did raise some concerns over supporter safety but found that policing at football was “certainly fit for purpose”.
Survey gives Celtic fans a chance to make their feelings heard
Now fans will be given a chance to air their views on policing at Scottish football matches in the first ever survey.
Chief Inspector Campbell Crawford, head of Police Scotland’s national football unit, said: “We want everyone who goes to a football match anywhere in Scotland to enjoy it in a safe and secure environment.
“We believe that, by building on the work already done to develop effective working relationships with football supporters and our communities, we can contribute to ensuring a positive experience for supporters attending matches as well as those who live and work in areas which host football matches.”
The policing of football matches is an issue that routinely rears its head to do with Celtic over the course of a season. The issue is not black and white. Often supporters are to blame for unacceptable behaviour while on other occasions they can be unfairly treated due to being football fans.
However, it is at least refreshing that supporters are being allowed to get their feelings across. They have been given a chance to say how they feel and that is at least a step in the right direction.
Whether they will be listened to or not is another question.
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