[HerefordBull]

Saint Charles Owl, I'd only add to the end of your thread - PLUS THE RELEVANT AUTHORITIES WHO HAVE A DUTY OF CARE to ensure the game in Scotland is nurtured properly and protected in the most robust way possible if and when the requisite attention is required to do it!

Yes, absolutely correct, if there are incidents like you describe then those are a matter of social responsibility by the authorities.  I am reminded of the days back in the 70s and 80s when I used to follow Wednesday to matches all over the country and even though I never wanted to get involved in any trouble, simply being there as an away football fan inevitably meant you ended up in the middle of it.  It took a lot of police, some heavy handed tactics and Government legislation to start the process of ridding English football of the hooligan element but above all else it took a lot of time after these things were implemented to actually see it diminish.  The Hillsborough disaster and the introduction of all seater stadia also were part of the reason it disappeared, but it took years to achieve it.  Of course it hasn't gone fully away, but you rarely see it in the ground anymore, and therefore it is not happening in front of TV cameras!!

You mentioned the incidents on a Saturday night after a game or incidents away from the match itself and this is where the authorities have to get involved because I am a firm believer that this is something that football can do very little about, nor can football take much blame for it either.  Football by nature is tribal, add in the historical religious aspect of the OF (and other clubs in Scotland) and it goes to a whole different social level to what we had in England!!  We never had to deal with the under current of sectarian driven violence, we just had to deal with the caveman tribal aspect so I do not expect a quick fix to any of this.  

Football generally does not breed hooligans, but it does attract them, sometimes in their droves, but the first step for me is authorities recognising that these are not football hooligans but hooligans at football, and then deal with them as we would any hooligan in our society.  No longer should football be used as the vehicle for these idiots to hide behind or use as an excuse for their behaviour, they are thugs whoever they claim to support!!!

Quite correct SCO. I used to go to the Villa each week in the times you mentioned and there was trouble to be seen most weeks usually in those days in the old Witton Lane end where the away fans were. It was part and parcel of the game in those days. Fortunately incidents inside grounds rarely happen now but that doesn't mean it has gone away.

Big games certainly attracts the neds and you only have to look at the support when Hibs meet Hearts in Edinburgh.

Incidently I remember being ejected from the Holte End in those times against Sheffield Wednesday ....still don't know what I did    hope you weren't there