The repeal of the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act will now be further considered by politicians

Politicians have moved to scrap the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act.

Opposition parties joined forces to narrowly vote through a motion to repeal the legislation at Holyrood this week.

Football fans have said that the law unfairly targets them, however charities have called for politicians and football clubs to work together to ensure hate crimes are clamped down on.

MSPs voted by 65 to 61 to back his bill in principle in its first chamber test, and the repeal bill will now be considered at committee level before MSPs hold a final vote.

Labour MSP James Kelly, who introduced the repeal as a private member’s bill, said that the legislation had failed to make progress in tackling sectarianism.

He said: "It is time for the SNP government to listen to the will of parliament and get behind repeal. Instead of continuing to pursue this broken law, it must work to unify parties, anti-sectarian organisations, faith groups and education leaders, and start taking the problem of sectarianism seriously.

"It is not tenable for the one party, the governing party, to continue to argue for a law condemned by legal experts, equalities organisations and human rights groups, which is now without the support of parliament. The football act has got to go."

The SNP has said that it recognises that the legislation needs amended, however that repealing it sends out the wrong message.

Community safety minister Annabelle Ewing said: "We will explore all options at our disposal to protect people as best we can from hate crime, as well as continue with our education work which is helping to prevent it happening in the first place.

"While it's a sad day for Scotland, we are resolute in our determination to combat bigotry, homophobia, racism and offensive behaviour targeting people for simply being who they are. It's not acceptable, and we want the people of Scotland to know we have their back."

Dave Scott, campaign director of Nil by Mouth, said that repealing the act will not make sectarianism go away and that football clubs need to be made to face up to the problem.

He said: “If we are serious about tackling this problem, we need politicians from all parties to force the SFA and SPFL to introduce UEFA’s Strict Liability guidelines which see clubs held directly responsible for their repeated failure to tackle this type of bigotry and face financial and sporting sanctions if they fail to get tough on this problem.

“Prevention is better – and cheaper – than cure. We need to ensure the grassroots work of groups like Nil by Mouth, Sense Over Sectarianism and Supporters Direct can continue to be funded beyond March, allowing them to challenge attitudes, build bridges and use education as our most powerful weapon to win hearts and minds.”