Jakub Kondraciuk 

Scottish football has been intertwined with identity, rivalry, pride and most importantly, sectarianism. 

 In the recent years post COVID-19 pandemic, there’s been a significant rise in the disorder seen many decades before.  

Incidents at both Celtic Park and Ibrox have led to requests for more high-profile security, as regular fans of Celtic and Rangers feel as if they can’t attend games without being under scrutiny, worrying about their safety.  

Police Scotland have repeatedly warned that coordinated groups are seeking out for confrontation rather than football itself, repeating the cycle that was last seen in the 1990s. “Stadiums could be clamped down to fans if the violence does not stop”. 

Understanding as to why this is re-occuring once again requires more than just looking at what’s happening in front of your eyes or on a phone screen with these volatile attacks.  

Some would suggest that within the Glasgow region and the west of Scotland, Moral panic gives a better understanding to what’s causing this to damage ordinary society outside of stadiums. 

 Media coverage from mainstream coorperations mixed with public anxiety is what amplifies social problems. This is also known as public disorder with the football ‘ultras’ being seen as ‘folk devils.’  

Politicians meanwhile are calling for further legislation, reinforcing the idea that for the first time in 30 years, hooliganism is spiraling out of control again.  

This suggests that post-pandemic social tensions could be the cause of such disorder to societal values.  

Addressing these issues requires a balanced act of targeted policing, fan engagement, and media accountability to not amplify public perception to the extent of social tensions.  

Without balancing these policies, Scotland risks repeating a long familiar cycle of moral panic shaping policy more strongly than volatile evidence, potentially creating a divide rather than resolving underlying issues with modern Scottish football hooliganism.