A Result
BBC Scotland reports on today's summit between the Scottish government, police and footballing authorities - following last week's Old Firm game in Glasgow.
No magic bullets or instant cures - to be sure - but a result for common sense nonetheless.
Without the high profile press coverage and public debate over the past week - not a thing would have changed or improved.
The clubs and the SFA have shifted and promised to do better - because they are well and truly under the public spotlight.
Old Firm summit 'tackles bigots'
"Funding to tackle sectarianism and a pledge to target internet bigots are among measures announced following a summit into Old Firm-related disorder.
Ministers are to commit £500,000 to anti-sectarian and anti-racist bodies.
A task force will be set up to explore match scheduling, access to alcohol during games and whether banning orders could be extended to fans who misbehave away from the ground.
Police will also look at addressing "public order" issues on web forums.
The Strathclyde force requested the summit after describing scenes at last weeks Celtic versus Rangers game as "shameful".
The game saw three red cards, several touch-line and tunnel confrontations and 34 arrests inside Celtic Park during a volatile Scottish Cup tie, which Celtic won 1-0.
Representatives from both clubs, the Scottish Football Association (SFA) and Strathclyde Police attended the meeting in Edinburgh on Tuesday.
Following the summit, First Minister Alex Salmond announced that all parties had agreed eight broad measures to improve behaviour surounding the fixture.
These include:
1 widespread agreement that existing rules and regulations are consistently applied and respected;
2 to explore practicalities of new scheduling for the Old Firm fixture;
3 to introduce tough new measures to cut alcohol consumption before and after games;
4 to insure all those involved in matches are aware of their responsibilities - this will involve a pre-match briefing from police to players and managers;
5 to support the expansion of community and social partnerships between the Old Firm clubs;
6 to support all work to address sectarianism;
7 to look at measures to extend the scope of football banning orders; and
8 to look at greater public order policing of the internet.
Mr Salmond said: "The meeting emphasise not just measures that can be taken in the short term - it emphasises the joint responsibility to envisage football as a force for good in Scottish society and the potential it has.
"It is our national game, it has enormous prestige and the willingness that was demonstrated by clubs and associations today, to see football in that context and to broadcast that message, was extremely encouraging.
"I am sure that each and every one us recognises that today is not the end of a process but very much the beginning of a series of action which will allow us to develop football as a force for good in Scotland."
No magic bullets or instant cures - to be sure - but a result for common sense nonetheless.
Without the high profile press coverage and public debate over the past week - not a thing would have changed or improved.
The clubs and the SFA have shifted and promised to do better - because they are well and truly under the public spotlight.
Old Firm summit 'tackles bigots'
"Funding to tackle sectarianism and a pledge to target internet bigots are among measures announced following a summit into Old Firm-related disorder.
Ministers are to commit £500,000 to anti-sectarian and anti-racist bodies.
A task force will be set up to explore match scheduling, access to alcohol during games and whether banning orders could be extended to fans who misbehave away from the ground.
Police will also look at addressing "public order" issues on web forums.
The Strathclyde force requested the summit after describing scenes at last weeks Celtic versus Rangers game as "shameful".
The game saw three red cards, several touch-line and tunnel confrontations and 34 arrests inside Celtic Park during a volatile Scottish Cup tie, which Celtic won 1-0.
Representatives from both clubs, the Scottish Football Association (SFA) and Strathclyde Police attended the meeting in Edinburgh on Tuesday.
Following the summit, First Minister Alex Salmond announced that all parties had agreed eight broad measures to improve behaviour surounding the fixture.
These include:
1 widespread agreement that existing rules and regulations are consistently applied and respected;
2 to explore practicalities of new scheduling for the Old Firm fixture;
3 to introduce tough new measures to cut alcohol consumption before and after games;
4 to insure all those involved in matches are aware of their responsibilities - this will involve a pre-match briefing from police to players and managers;
5 to support the expansion of community and social partnerships between the Old Firm clubs;
6 to support all work to address sectarianism;
7 to look at measures to extend the scope of football banning orders; and
8 to look at greater public order policing of the internet.
Mr Salmond said: "The meeting emphasise not just measures that can be taken in the short term - it emphasises the joint responsibility to envisage football as a force for good in Scottish society and the potential it has.
"It is our national game, it has enormous prestige and the willingness that was demonstrated by clubs and associations today, to see football in that context and to broadcast that message, was extremely encouraging.
"I am sure that each and every one us recognises that today is not the end of a process but very much the beginning of a series of action which will allow us to develop football as a force for good in Scotland."
