Smarmy Sniping and Sidelines
So the intervention of the police and politicians - seems to have had an effect - a good old talking to seems to have worked, for now anyway.
Yesterday's Old Firm match in Glasgow - between Celtic and Rangers - was played in good spirit with none of the ugly behaviour witnessed in previous matches.
With the players and officials on their best behaviour - the fans took their lead - and arrests in and around the stadium were considerably fewer than normal.
So much so that the police praised the behaviour of both clubs - which is as it should be - in what is after all a game - despite the fierce rivalry between the two sets of supporters.
Some commentators say that the police and politicians should stay out of football - that they should concentrate on other issues - such as fighting 'real' crime in the city centre, for example.
Well anyone who lives in or visits the Glasgow city centre - after a particularly poisonous Old Firm football match - knows that there is a huge rise in criminal and anti-social behaviour on the streets.
At such times the city centre is not a safe or pleasant place to be and that - as well as the issue of domestic violence - is what the police, the politicians and the football authorities are trying to tackle.
In doing so they deserve our full encouragement and support - not smarmy sniping from the sidelines.
Yesterday's Old Firm match in Glasgow - between Celtic and Rangers - was played in good spirit with none of the ugly behaviour witnessed in previous matches.
With the players and officials on their best behaviour - the fans took their lead - and arrests in and around the stadium were considerably fewer than normal.
So much so that the police praised the behaviour of both clubs - which is as it should be - in what is after all a game - despite the fierce rivalry between the two sets of supporters.
Some commentators say that the police and politicians should stay out of football - that they should concentrate on other issues - such as fighting 'real' crime in the city centre, for example.
Well anyone who lives in or visits the Glasgow city centre - after a particularly poisonous Old Firm football match - knows that there is a huge rise in criminal and anti-social behaviour on the streets.
At such times the city centre is not a safe or pleasant place to be and that - as well as the issue of domestic violence - is what the police, the politicians and the football authorities are trying to tackle.
In doing so they deserve our full encouragement and support - not smarmy sniping from the sidelines.
