Deliver football offences laws now – Long

In the wake of news that Ballymena United lost their appeal against a charge of racist chanting from fans, Alliance Sports Spokesperson Cllr Michael Long said we need football offences laws urgently to ensure that full and swift investigations into such allegations can be conducted. The Alliance Party has led the way for almost a decade in campaigning for laws of this type to be introduced in Northern Ireland.

Castlereagh Councillor Michael Long said: “We were promised laws to combat racist and sectarian chanting, but we are still waiting for them to be delivered. The consultation on the legislation finished at the end of November, and I call on the Northern Ireland Office to produce these laws as quickly as possible

“Even as far back as 1979, as we saw in official documents recently released under the 30 year rule, the serious level of trouble at Irish League football was recognised, and we should not have to wait any longer for measures to tackle this issue.

“If football here is to flourish we need to banish prejudice from the terraces. Football is for all and the government must deliver swiftly on their promise of laws to ban thugs.”

ENDS