OpenLegislation

Football Spectators Act 1989 in Scotland

1989 c. 37 · Enacted 16 November 1989 · Extends to United Kingdom

Not fully up to date. 2 changes made by later legislation have not yet been written into this text, which is revised to 1 April 2026.

See the changes not yet applied
ProvisionChangeMade by
s. 2(3)words substitutedCriminal Justice Act 2003 Sch. 26 para. 41
s. 7(10)(b)words repealedCriminal Justice Act 2003 Sch. 37 Pt. 7

Contents

  1. Part I: Football Matches in England and Wales
  2. 3The Football Membership Authority. Not yet in force
  3. 4National membership scheme: making, approval, modification etc. Not yet in force
  4. 6Phased application of scheme. Not yet in force
  5. Licences to admit spectators
  6. 8The Football Licensing Authority. Repealed
  7. Banning orders
  8. 14CBanning orders: supplementary.
  9. 21DSummary measures: compensation.
  10. 24Offences by bodies corporate.
  11. 26Financial provision.
  12. 2Paragraph 2
  13. 3Paragraph 3
  14. Schedule 2: The Football Licensing Authority: Supplementary Provisions Repealed
  15. 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
  16. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  17. 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
  18. 4Paragraph 4 Repealed
  19. 5Paragraph 5 Repealed
  20. 6Paragraph 6 Repealed
  21. 7Paragraph 7 Repealed
  22. 8Paragraph 8 Repealed
  23. 9Paragraph 9 Repealed
  24. 10Paragraph 10 Repealed
  25. 11Paragraph 11 Repealed
  26. 12Paragraph 12 Repealed
  27. 13Paragraph 13 Repealed
  28. Disqualification of members of licensing authority for House of Commons and Northern Ireland Assembly Repealed
  29. 14Paragraph 14 Repealed
  30. 15Paragraph 15 Repealed
  31. 16Paragraph 16 Repealed
  32. 17Paragraph 17 Repealed
  33. 18Paragraph 18 Repealed
  34. 19Paragraph 19 Repealed
  35. 20Paragraph 20 Repealed
  36. 21Paragraph 21 Repealed
  37. 22Paragraph 22 Repealed
  38. 23Paragraph 23 Repealed
  39. 25Paragraph 25 Repealed
  40. 26Paragraph 26 Repealed
  41. 26AParagraph 26A Repealed
  42. 26BParagraph 26B Repealed
  43. 27Paragraph 27 Repealed
  44. 28Paragraph 28 Repealed
  45. 29Paragraph 29 Repealed
  46. 30Paragraph 30 Repealed

3The Football Membership Authority.F1

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4National membership scheme: making, approval, modification etc.F1

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6Phased application of scheme.F1

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8The Football Licensing Authority.F1

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14CBanning orders: supplementary.F1

(1)

In this Part, “violence” means violence against persons or property and includes threatening violence and doing anything which endangers the life of any person.

(2)

In this Part, “disorder” includes—

(a)

stirring up hatred against a group of persons defined by reference to colour, race, nationality (including citizenship) or ethnic or national origins, or against an individual as a member of such a group,

(b)

using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour or disorderly behaviour,

(c)

displaying any writing or other thing which is threatening, abusive or insulting.

(3)

In this Part, “violence” and “disorder” are not limited to violence or disorder in connection with football.

(4)

The magistrates’ court may take into account the following matters (among others), so far as they consider it appropriate to do so, in determining whether to make an order under section 14B above—

(a)

any decision of a court or tribunal outside the United Kingdom,

(b)

deportation or exclusion from a country outside the United Kingdom,

(c)

removal or exclusion from premises used for playing football matches, whether in the United Kingdom or elsewhere,

(d)

conduct recorded on video or by any other means.

(5)

In determining whether to make such an order—

(a)

the magistrates’ court may not take into account anything done by the respondent before the beginning of the period of ten years ending with the application under section 14B(1) above, except circumstances ancillary to a conviction,

(b)

before taking into account any conviction for a relevant offence, where a court made a statement under section 14A(3) above (or section 15(2A) below or section 30(3) of the M1Public Order Act 1986), the magistrates’ court must consider the reasons given in the statement,

and in this subsection “circumstances ancillary to a conviction” has the same meaning as it has for the purposes of section 4 of the M2Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (effect of rehabilitation).

(6)

Subsection (5) does not prejudice anything in the M3Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

21DSummary measures: compensation.F1

(1)

Where a person to whom a notice has been given under section 21B above appears before a magistrates’ court and the court refuses the application for a banning order in respect of him, it may order compensation to be paid to him out of central funds if it is satisfied—

(a)

that the notice should not have been given,

(b)

that he has suffered loss as a result of the giving of the notice, and

(c)

that, having regard to all the circumstances, it is appropriate to order the payment of compensation in respect of that loss.

(2)

An appeal lies to the Crown Court against any refusal by a magistrates’ court to order the payment of compensation under subsection (1) above.

(3)

The compensation to be paid by order of the magistrates’ court under subsection (1) above or by order of the Crown Court on an appeal under subsection (2) above shall not exceed £5,000 (but no appeal may be made under subsection (2) in respect of the amount of compensation awarded).

(4)

If it appears to the Secretary of State that there has been a change in the value of money since the coming into force of this section or, as the case may be, the last occasion when the power conferred by this subsection was exercised, he may by order substitute for the amount specified in subsection (3) above such other amount as appears to him to be justified by the change.

(5)

In this section, “central funds” has the same meaning as in enactments providing for the payment of costs.

24Offences by bodies corporate.

(1)

Where an offence under this Act which has been committed by a body corporate is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of, or to be attributable to any neglect on the part of, a director, manager, secretary or similar officer of the body corporate, or any person purporting to act in that capacity, he, as well as the body corporate, shall be guilty of that offence and be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.

(2)

Where the affairs of a body corporate are managed by its members, subsection (1) above shall apply to the acts and defaults of a member in connection with his functions of management as if he were a director of the body corporate.

26Financial provision.

(1)

Any expenses of the Secretary of State under this Act shall be paid out of money provided by Parliament.

(2)

Any fees received by the Secretary of State under this Act shall be paid into the Consolidated Fund.

2F1

Any reference to an offence in paragraph 1 above includes—

C1(a)

a reference to any attempt, conspiracy or incitement to commit that offence, and

(b)

a reference to aiding and abetting, counselling or procuring the commission of that offence.

3F1

For the purposes of paragraphs 1(g) to (o) above—

(a)

a person may be regarded as having been on a journey to or from a football match to which this Schedule applies whether or not he attended or intended to attend the match, and

(b)

a person’s journey includes breaks (including overnight breaks).

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