A plan to shake up how football supporters’ buses operate in Scotland has been put on hold after the Traffic Commissioners unveiled plans for new guidelines on what the supporters’ buses can do on match days. This included any pub stops being allowed only at premises which serve a ‘substantial meal’ with any alcohol bought.
The new plans were widely criticised and the Senior Traffic Commissioner Richard Turfitt has now suspended work on the proposed new guidelines, saying he had listened to the strength of feeling expressed. “It is clear to me that there is further work required to understand the full impact of the introduction of any proposed guidance in Scotland,” he said, adding that his Office had stopped a public consultation exercise on the guidelines while it takes stock.
The Senior Traffic Commissioner had previously said the changes were needed due to concerns that incidents of football-related disorder are still occurring and may be increasing. However, Scotland’s football authorities argued the move would serve to demonise football fans. First Minister Humza Yousaf also did not support the planned changes.
A joint statement issued on behalf of the Scottish FA, Scottish Professional Football League, and Scottish Women’s Premier League welcomed the change of heart, reports the BBC. “We are pleased that the Senior Traffic Commissioner for Great Britain has withdrawn the proposed consultation and that common sense has prevailed,” the statement said. “We are also grateful to clubs, fans and politicians across the country for their unanimous support in opposing and ultimately preventing these unreasonable and unworkable guidelines from being implemented.”
As well as guidelines on venues only serving alcohol with a substantial meal, coaches would have to arrive between one and two hours before the start of the game, and then leave within 30 minutes of the finish.
The same voluntary guidelines are already in place in England and Wales and the Commissioner had argued they have worked well there, adding that it had seldom been necessary to take any action against coach operators, though Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross believed that they were not needed in Scotland: “This is the right outcome and a victory for football fans across Scotland who had united against these ludicrous proposals,” he said. “It is only right that the Traffic Commissioner has seen sense and withdrawn the consultation. The proposals were insulting and completely disproportionate and have ended up on the scrapheap where they belong.”
