Image source, SNS

Hibernian boss Neil Lennon believes there are fewer incidents of sectarian chants and songs in Scottish football than in years gone by.

Match delegates employed by the Scottish Professional Football League are dismayed by a lack of action when they have reported problems.

But Northern Irishman Lennon, who has endured threats, abuse and violence during his career, thinks instances are less prevalent than previously.

"I think it is better now," he said.

• Scottish football accused of sweeping sectarianism under carpet

Labour MSP Johann Lamont says the argument conflates being offensive with being sectarian.

She criticises the argument that members supporting this Bill are acting irresponsibly.

What message does cutting budgets for programmes that education people on these issues send, the MSP asks.

Image source, bbc

Tory MSP Maurice Corry says the Act is unnecessary and says the Scottish government has failed to reach out to the football community.

The Act has left fans feeling targetted, he says, as it focusses exclusively on football, a fate no other sport has experienced.

Here are the key findings of the YouthLink Scotland's Sectarianism on Social Media report, external:

• The majority of survey respondents thought there was prejudice towards Catholics (68%) and Protestants (55%) in Scotland. However, a substantial proportion thought there was little or no prejudice towards Catholics (27%) and Protestants (40%).
• Football was viewed as the main contributor to sectarianism (76%) followed by Orange Order marches (73%), Irish Republican marches (63%) and the internet and social media (63%).
• The majority of respondents came across sectarian language on social media (around 7 in 10).
• Respondents were split on the issue of the extent to which the use of sectarian language on social media was a problem in Scotland, with around half (48%) describing it as a big problem, 36% as a small problem and 16% as not a problem at all.

Image source, bbc

• The majority (72%) thought that those posting comments or images on social media which were offensive toward someone because they are Protestant or Catholic caused a great deal/quite a lot or some degree of harm to Scotland’s image and reputation.
• 58% of respondents thought it unacceptable to use the word ‘Fenian’ in an online post with a considerably lower proportion believing that use of the word ‘Proddy’ was unacceptable (42%). However, a significant proportion of people thought it acceptable to use these expressions online (23% and 31% respectively).
• Respondents were presented with four real tweets which used sectarian expressions and asked whether they considered their language acceptable. You can find the tweets here., external

SNP MSP James Dornan says this weekend he brought a unionist march to the attention of his followers on Twitter, after which he was told his mum was dead and was subject to "infantile abuse from grown men".

Legislation was brought in because the sectarian issue was so bad, he says.

Mr Dornan notes to support among young people for an offence for offensive posts online, according to the recent YouthLink Scotland survey, external.

The way to deal with the Act's issues is not to repeal it but to improve it, the SNP MSP argues.

"Those that vote for repeal tonight will be enabling this type of behaviour."

Image source, bbc

Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur says no-one in this chamber condones sectarian behaviour or racial hatred.

Mr McArthur says the law will continue to protect against offensive behaviour and threatening communications.

The Lib Dem MSP says it is irresponsible for the government to continue fanning anxiety about leaving gaps in the law.

He says this is simply not credible, citing the Law Society of Scotland paper.

Mr McArthur says the Act is "ineffective, counterproductive and illiberal".

Green MSP John Finnie begins by saying he is "really disappointed" by this debate so far.

He accuses the minister of attempting to "trash" Scottish football.

The police have said they are "perfectly capable" of policing without this legislation, he says.

Mr Finnie calls for members across the chamber to work together to address the "scourge" of sectarianism.

The Green MSP reiterates his party's support for repeal.

Image source, bbc

Labour MSP Daniel Johnson says the 2012 Act provides no additonal power to police or prosecutors, has had human consequences and has been "profoundly illiberal in its effect".

Mr Johnson says there is no need for this Act and its time on the statute book is coming to an end.

He says the real issue is the damage the Act has done to people.

"People have a right of political expression," he says, saying people have been arrested for wearing a Che Guevara t-shirt.

"This Act is illiberal and it is wrong."

Mr Kerr says football fans are being treated as a "malevolent" entity, comparing the number of charges brought under the Act to those that attend football games.

There is a problem with sectarianism but it is not exclusive to football, he adds.

The Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications Act was passed in 2011 by the then-majority Scottish government in a bid to tackle sectarianism.

Only SNP members supported the bill at that time, and opposition parties were quick to move to reverse the decision after the government lost its majority in the 2016 elections.

Image source, bbc

Ministers continue to defend the legislation, criticising opponents for not bringing forward alternatives.

Mr Kelly insists existing laws are sufficient, with the Football Act itself not regularly used by prosecutors, and has pressed ahead with his members' bill.

He won the backing of the justice committee, which voted six to five along party lines, and his bill has now passed the first legislative hurdle in the chamber.

Tory MSP Liam Kerr says: "This is bad law, but more than that it is unnecessary law."

Mr Kerr says fans have changed their behaviour by simply covering their mouths and have altered songs and chants.

The Act has been counterproductive, he insists.

Image source, bbc

The Tory MSP agrees with the principle of repealing the Act, but says he has been concerned about the message repeal might send, but says he has concluded there is not an issue there.

SNP MSP Rona Mackay says equality groups are frightened to go to football matches and asks if Mr Kerr disregards their evidence to the Justice Committee

He says he does not, and says it is "deeply, deeply irresponsible" to give these groups false reassurance this Act will protect them.

Ms Ewing says there has been "a lot of denial" about the negative impact repeal will have on communities throughout Scotland.

She notes a recent survey found 76% of people believed football was the main cause of sectarianism in Scotland.

Green MSP Patrick Harvie intervenes to say there the "shared revulsion" of sectarianism is an argument for good law not a defence for bad law.

The minister responds that that it why the Scottish government would rather amend than repeal.

There is a problem with the toxic behaviour we see at football and it will not go away on its own, she says.

Image source, Getty Images

MSPs on Holyrood's Justice Committee recommended the repeal of the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act.

A majority of members on the committee backed Labour MSP James Kelly's members bill, while stressing that they strongly condemn sectarian behaviour.

SNP members do not want the legislation repealed, but are outnumbered by MSPs from opposition parties, all of whom are in favour of scrapping it.

MSPs backed the general principles of the Repeal Bill in January.

Read more here.

Community Safety and Legal Affairs Minister Annabelle Ewing says during the last Old Firm match some Rangers sang offensive songs, as did some Celtic fans.

Ms Ewing says their "song books" are not passionate and describes other incidents around the game.

She details other incidents at the Hearts and Hibs derby.

Image source, bbc

The minister says this snap shot of one weekend of fixtures says the 2012 Act should be improved not repealed.

Repeal without a viable alternatibive sends the message that this parliament is happy to allow this behaviour to go unchecked and unchallenged, she says.

Image source, PA

Mr Kelly recalls the case of a Rangers support detained overnight in a police cell before being released at 5.30am, and then had to spend £60 for a taxi into work.

He incurred hundreds of pounds in legal fees before being found not guilty, the Labour MSP says.

The Football Act has not worked, it has caused confusion and it is time to consign it to history, he concludes.

Image source, bbc

Mr Kelly says in relation to tackling sectarianism and religious intolerance this legislation has failed.

The Labour MSP says the government adopted a simplistic approach, thinking legislation could deal with sectarianism.

SNP MSP John Mason says the opinion polls show that the public think football is the place sectarianism is most frequently shown.

Mr Kelly points to the statistics which refute that.

He says the governent should not cut anti-sectarian budgets but work collegiately to fight sectarianism.

Image source, Reuters

The bid to repeal the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act was backed by MSPs in its first full vote at Holyrood in January.

All opposition parties want to scrap the legislation, which was passed with SNP votes alone in 2011 in a bid to crack down on sectarianism.

Labour's James Kelly put forward a members' bill to have the act repealed, saying it is poorly written and unfairly targets football fans.

MSPs voted by 65 to 61 to back his bill in principle in its first chamber test.

Ministers said they would respect the vote, but called it a "sad day for Scotland".

• Look back on the debate on Holyrood Live from 14:30

"This Football Act has been a failure," begins Labour MSP James Kelly.

"The Football Act is the worst piece of legislation in Scottish parliament history and it is time for it to go."