Sheriff Principal Bowen calls for statutory offence of pitch invasion

The Scottish Football Association (SFA) commissioned Sheriff Principal Bowen QC to produce the report, which asks whether invading the pitch should become a statutory offence.

It comes after a two-month investigation into the pitch invasion at the end of May’s final between Rangers and Hibs at Hampden.

Sheriff Principal Bowen suggests in the report that Police Scotland could employ a reserve of officers at matches where there is the possibility of “uncontrollable celebrations” so they can be deployed immediately.

The report also calls for a review of the emergency protocol at matches. He states that players and officials should leave the pitch as soon as possible in the event of a pitch invasion and that authorities should consider a retractable tunnel to increase security.

South of the border, invading the pitch is a statutory offence under section 4 of the Football (Offences) Act 1991.

In Scotland, police have traditionally availed themselves of breach of the peace to deal with the problem.

The Sheriff Principal notes in the report that the invasion was prompted by “an exceptionally high degree of excitement” and adds that those who ran onto the pitch did so “in a spirit of jubilation” but that a few Rangers fans had “allowed themselves to be taunted by the Hibs fans to the point of invading the pitch for the purpose of physical confrontation”.

But Rangers has claimed there are “factual inaccuracies and contradictions” in the report.