Football Blame Game
Politics in Scotland seems to be returning to its tribal traditions - as Holyrood MSPs grapple with new legislation designed to tackle the hateful religious sectarianism - which attaches itself to our national game.
Now the game of rugby doesn't suffer from this problem - nor does cricket - or cycling - as far as I know anyway.
No the ugly bigotry and out of control drunkenness - which flares up with monotonous regularlity - is a peculiar feature of our 'beautiful' football game.
Hence the reason that earlier this year - following yet more disgraceful scenes at a Celtic vs Rangers match - the country united to say 'enough is enough'.
The outcome was a commitment to bring in new legislation - aimed specifically at the behaviour surrounding football matches - with the call for new powers to deal with the troublemakers being led by the police.
Politicians of all parties agreed - in principle - and say they still do.
Except now they're trying to find reasons to disgaree with each other - instead of concentrating on the issue in hand.
I listened to the concerns of opposition parties at Holyrood yesterday.
MSPs who say they have concerns over aspects of the planned bill - echoing the sentiments of campaign groups and Catholic bishops outside the Parliament.
'The legislation's too narrow' - they say - or in the case of the bishop that it's a 'distraction' - but a distraction from what exactly.
The point is that if the proposed bill goes too far - or doesn't go far enough - then these MSPs and their friends outside the Parliament have every chance to improve the legislation - by submitting an amendment to increase or reduce its scope or power.
But what they can't do - if they want to have any credibility at least - is to snipe from the sidelines instead of putting forward constructive proposals of their own.
Because that would be a return to Scotland's old-fashioned tribal politics - at its very worst.
Now the game of rugby doesn't suffer from this problem - nor does cricket - or cycling - as far as I know anyway.
No the ugly bigotry and out of control drunkenness - which flares up with monotonous regularlity - is a peculiar feature of our 'beautiful' football game.
Hence the reason that earlier this year - following yet more disgraceful scenes at a Celtic vs Rangers match - the country united to say 'enough is enough'.
The outcome was a commitment to bring in new legislation - aimed specifically at the behaviour surrounding football matches - with the call for new powers to deal with the troublemakers being led by the police.
Politicians of all parties agreed - in principle - and say they still do.
Except now they're trying to find reasons to disgaree with each other - instead of concentrating on the issue in hand.
I listened to the concerns of opposition parties at Holyrood yesterday.
MSPs who say they have concerns over aspects of the planned bill - echoing the sentiments of campaign groups and Catholic bishops outside the Parliament.
'The legislation's too narrow' - they say - or in the case of the bishop that it's a 'distraction' - but a distraction from what exactly.
The point is that if the proposed bill goes too far - or doesn't go far enough - then these MSPs and their friends outside the Parliament have every chance to improve the legislation - by submitting an amendment to increase or reduce its scope or power.
But what they can't do - if they want to have any credibility at least - is to snipe from the sidelines instead of putting forward constructive proposals of their own.
Because that would be a return to Scotland's old-fashioned tribal politics - at its very worst.
