Kieran McCarthy MLA said: “These plans are very welcome but I want to know why it has taken Direct Rule and Executive Ministers so long to come up with them?
“Alliance has been campaigning for almost a decade for the introduction of football-offences style laws for Northern Ireland, so this is a victory for our campaign even though we are unhappy that it took so long for Ministers to act.
“Shortly after the return of devolution, I proposed a motion in the Assembly on tackling sectarianism and violence at sports grounds, and I am glad that this matter is finally being addressed.
“We need laws to help us rid our sports grounds of the small number of troublemakers which exist. I hope that these measures, which include provisions to ban offenders, will ensure that spectators can enjoy all sports free from intimidation and fear.”
ENDS