Football unites and it also divides, with insults between bitter rivals sometimes escalating to violence. In 2012, the Scottish Government legislated against ‘offensive behaviour’ at matches. However, Joseph Webster’s research in Glasgow among Rangers and Celtic fans showed the Act unfairly blighted young men’s lives, prompting him to call for education not legislation. His work helped repeal the Act in 2018, and led the Scottish Parliament to increase funding for anti-sectarianism education.
Added 9 November 2022