First Minister John Swinney has said he is ‘not sympathetic’ to allowing alcohol at football games.
Documents released through freedom of information legislation on Tuesday showed that Police Scotland and the Scottish Professional Football League were ‘open to discussions’ on the issue.
The papers were part of a briefing provided to First Minister John Swinney.
If such a move was to be brought in, the document said, it would be ‘in a limited number of pilot projects’ to gather evidence on the effect of selling alcohol and to understand the results and impacts.
But, speaking to the PA news agency yesterday, the First Minister knocked down any speculation that such a plan would be forthcoming.
‘I understand the aspiration amongst football clubs and some football interests to take forward measures to address the ban on alcohol in football stadiums,’ he said.
Swinney enjoys a pre-match refreshment ahead of Scotland’s Euro 2024 loss to Germany
‘I’m not sympathetic to that. I understand where they’re coming from, but I am not sympathetic to that.
‘I think we’ve got a set of arrangements in place just now that work, that are appropriate, that are necessary, and I think we should stick with them.’
The ban was first brought into force in 1981 following disorder between Rangers and Celtic fans at the previous year’s Scottish Cup final.
Critics of the ban have pointed to the hospitality suites located in football grounds which sell alcohol to those who pay more for tickets, as well as the lack of a similar ban at rugby matches played at Murrayfield in Edinburgh.
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