The Old Firm Summit

Yesterday saw the Old Firm summit take place, Martin Bain and Peter Lawell met First Minister Alex Salmond and the Chief Constable of Strathclyde Police to have talks about reducing violence at Old Firm matches. The full summit can be seen on both clubs official websites. Also on the websites you can see both clubs reactions to the summit agreements. In the summit both Rangers and Celtic agreed to the "six point plan". This plan is as follows;

To support the introduction of tough new measures to reduce alcohol consumption before and after games, and to make a significant contribution to the longer term effort to tackle Scotland's alcohol problem

To ensure that all those involved in matches are fully aware of their legal responsibilities

To support the expansion of the excellent existing community and social partnerships between the "Old Firm" to take every opportunity to demonstrate mutual respect and cooperation

To offer full support to all the work by clubs, authorities and police to work with communities to address alcohol misuse, sectarianism, racism, domestic abuse and violence

To consider the expansion of Football Banning Orders and the clubs' own codes of conduct to respond to criminal behaviour of fans away from the grounds specifically on domestic abuse

To ensure that the Police have the support of all parties to the enforcement of the law in relation to public order including on the internet. This would include consideration both of the consistency of the policing of football in Scotland and the potential role of a dedicated Football Intelligence Unit

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Now I think it's fair to say we all agree that something needs to be done about the level of violence before, during and after Old Firm matches, however, I don't think we can blame some acts of domestic abuse, racism, violence purely on Old Firm matches if these crimes happen on the day of a match.

The first point of the summit is one I completely agree on, a ban on alcohol on the day of the game is needed but how far do we stretch this ban? Is it just on stadium ground? Is it in the area's around Ibrox and Parkhead? Or is it all of Glasgow? Or even beyond Glasgow? Because let's face it, a vast number of fans travel long distances for these games.

Again, the second point is one I also agree on, every person involved in the game needs to know their legal responsibilities. You'll get no arguments from me on that, however I think arresting members of staff/players at Rangers or Celtic is ridiculous. If thats the case you would have to arrest every player on the pitch for assault after a bad tackle? How far do we go with this one as well?

On the third point, are we going to take away the rivalry of the Old Firm? What's the point in the Old Firm if you can't have a rivalry? Fair enough there is people that take it to far but come on? How about we go the whole way and join Rangers and Celtic together to create Glasgow F.C? It's ludicrous even suggesting that.

The fourth point is one where I don't disagree, although what can clubs do to stop domestic violence?

The next point, are we going to associate every crime that happens on the day of an Old Firm game with the Old Firm?

And the last point in the six point plan, are they suggesting that the Police don't already have the support of both clubs?

For me, there was absolutely no need for the Scottish Parliament to get involved, there was no need for Rangers and Celtic to send representatives to this meeting as they were basically a publicity stunt and finally there are problems with every one of the six points.