Participants In Survey Criticize Fan Experience At Scottish Football Matches

Half of Scottish football fans said that they have been "subjected to sectarianism in and around football stadia, with 81% believing it is a problem for the game," according to the BBC. But they told a Supporters Direct Scotland survey that value for money was "the biggest threat to the future of the game in the next five years." The annual Scottish Football Supporters Survey had "nearly 14,000 submissions." SDS Head Andrew Jenkin said, "Supporter experience is not rated highly and part of that is because of fan behavior." The survey also reported that 18% of those taking part claimed to have been "subjected to physical abuse in and around Scottish football stadia." Jenkin said that SDS had asked the governing bodies to help organize a "supporter-led event" to discuss "ways of tackling aggression at football matches." The Scottish Professional Football League last year rejected the idea of "introducing a strict liability rule that would dock points from clubs should their fans continue to misbehave" (BBC, 8/22).