Football clubs should be forced to play games behind closed doors to punish fans for thuggery, a senior police officer has said.
Chief Superintendent Rob Hay said existing criminal sanctions did not work to deter louts and instead clubs should face a crackdown.
It comes after Chief Constable Jo Farrell said dozens of officers had been diverted from probing serious crimes such as domestic abuse to hunt for fans responsible for disorder.
The row comes after anti-social behaviour at several games, including high-profile matches between Celtic and Rangers in the Scottish Cup and the Premiership title decider between Celtic and Hearts.
Scottish Tory justice spokesman Stephen Kerr said: ‘Police officers should never face violence simply for doing their job, and anyone responsible for attacking them must be identified, prosecuted, and face the full force of the law.
‘The Scottish Government have a responsibility that police officers have the resources they need to ensure these disgraceful scenes are not repeated.
Rangers and Celtic fans clashed in the Scottish Cup quarter-final at Ibrox in March
‘But after years of SNP cuts, Police Scotland have been left overstretched and, with over 1,000 fewer officers than before the pandemic, ministers cannot keep expecting officers to pick up the bill for failures to prevent disorder.’
Mr Hay, president of the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents (ASPS), said: ‘Of course, we can pour more and more resources into policing games, stripping communities of police officers, in order to support a multi-million pound business. Or instead, we can ensure those businesses discharge the same duty of care as any other would to patrons attending their premises.
‘Criminal justice outcomes lack immediacy and severity and clearly provide no deterrent in their current form.
‘Footballing problems demand footballing solutions. Points docked, matches forfeited and games played behind closed doors will soon lead to effective self-policing amongst fans.
‘And, unlike enhanced policing responses, these solutions are free to the taxpayer and ensure that the “polluter pays”.’ He called
