Unacceptable Conduct

Introduction

At the recent AGM, the Scottish FA made some changes to Article 28 of the Scottish FA Articles of Association in relation to Unacceptable Conduct.  Those changes brought in rules which made it explicit that Clubs were required to seek to identify those who engage in Unacceptable Conduct amongst their Officials and supporters and then to apply appropriate and proportionate disciplinary sanctions to those individuals.

Forfar Athletic Football Club will not tolerate unacceptable conduct from the Club’s employees, committee members, players or supporters at Station Park or at any other away football stadium.

Forfar Athletic Football Club aims to create and maintain an environment where spectators can enjoy the game of football, safe in the knowledge that they are free from all forms of harassment, abuse, unacceptable or disorderly conduct. This policy applies for any football matches or events within Station Park, or at any away fixtures. All persons entering the ground are expected to abide by the terms of this policy and by the SFA Ground Regulations.

Definition

Unacceptable conduct is conduct which is violent or disorderly and includes the use of flares, fireworks, smoke bombs or the like and/or any other object which may cause or be part of any incident. Conduct is violent where there is:

• Actual, attempted or threatened physical violence against a person or persons
• Intentional damage to property.

Disorderly conduct involves any activity which stirs up or sustains, or is likely, or is designed to stir up or sustain hatred or ill will against or towards individuals or groups of people because of:

• Gender
• Age
• Colour, race, nationality (including citizenship) or ethnic or national origin
•  Membership or presumed membership, of a religious group or of a social or cultural group with perceived religious affiliation
•  Sexual orientation
•  Transgender identity
•  Disability
•  Using threatening, abusive or insulting words or conduct both verbal and non-verbal
•  Displaying writing or any other item which is threatening, abusive or insulting.

Racism

Forfar Athletic Football Club condemns racism in any form, either on or off the pitch. Forfar Athletic Football Club aims to create and maintain a working and spectating environment free from racial harassment and abuse. Everyone connected with Forfar Athletic Football Club has a responsibility to prevent racial harassment or abuse.

A racist incident is defined by Forfar Athletic Football Club as any incident that is perceived to be racist by the victim, or any other person. Racial harassment is defined by Forfar Athletic Football Club to be any verbal, physical, written or visible abuse that is based on a person’s race, ethnic background, colour, nationality, language or cultural background – and is considered to be unwanted, unacceptable and offensive to the person.

All employees, committee members, players and servants of the Club have a responsibility to make it clear that such behaviour by anyone connected with Forfar Athletic Football Club is unacceptable.

Supporters should also note that racist taunts and abusive or threatening behaviour will not be tolerated by Forfar Athletic Football Club and all staff and supporters will be encouraged to condemn and report such behaviour.

Proven racial harassment or abuse will lead to eviction from the stadium and will be reported to the police and may result in a life ban from Forfar Athletic Football Club. Forfar Athletic Football Club will give their full support to the police in any criminal actions.

Season ticket holders who conduct themselves in this manner face having their season ticket revoked and all spectators face the prospect of a life ban from Station Park.

Sectarianism

Scottish football fans have earned a world wide reputation for their enthusiastic and good-natured support of the national team. While most fans follow club football in a responsible way, there are occasions where individuals are intent on causing trouble, using football as an excuse for bigoted and unacceptable behaviour.

By working together to remove bigotry from out football grounds we can demonstrate that Scottish football fans and in particular Forfar Athletic Football Club supporters:

Respect people of all backgrounds and celebrate the multicultural society that Scotland has become in the 21st Century.

Want their football clubs, and the support for their clubs, to reflect the diversity of modern Scottish society and

Are as passionate about their football clubs as they are about their national team.

Consequences

ANY PERSON ENGAGING IN UNACCEPTABLE CONDUCT MAY BE SUBJECT TO ANY, OR A COMBINATION OF THE FOLLOWING:

• Removal from Station Park or away stadium
• Suspension or indefinite ban from attending home matches involving Forfar Athletic Football Club
• Suspension or ban from holding Forfar Athletic Football Club membership
• Suspension or ban as a Player or Coach from Forfar Athletic Football Club
• Report to the police and possible criminal proceedings.

Responsibility

Everyone associated with the Club has a responsibility to prevent and discourage any form of abuse and as such are responsible not only for their own actions but also those of others. We would, therefore, encourage everyone to bring to the Club’s attention, any incident or behaviour, of individuals or groups of individuals, deemed to be in breach of this policy.

Whilst it is appreciated that behaviour such as that listed above involves the minority of individuals in our society, Forfar Athletic Football Club wishes to ensure that we continue to maintain the highest standards both on and off the field of play and that the name Forfar Athletic Football Club is associated with good and sporting behaviour at all times.