On Tuesday 14 October, the Women’s World Cup play-off saw Scotland beat Czechia 3-2 at The Marbill Coaches Stadium in Paisley.
For 46 years, drinking alcohol while in view of the pitch has been expressly banned. This was initiated following the events following the 1980 Men’s Scottish Cup final, which saw violent clashes between Rangers and Celtic fans.
With 6,321 in attendance, the match on Tuesday appeared to go off without a hitch. The North and South stands were designated alcohol-free areas, meaning nobody had to be in an environment that would make them uncomfortable. Simultaneously, in the East and West stands, from 90 minutes prior to kick-off until an hour into the game alcohol could be consumed in seats, meaning spectators were able to enjoy a drink while watching the game — which seemed to be a success without any significant incidents.
The SFA also made a statement saying, “Unlike men’s football in the UK, the women’s professional game is not covered by legislation which prohibits the consumption of alcohol in view of the pitch.”
But the debate on if the ban should be lifted and alcohol should return to football remains unsettled, and rather divisive.
When asked about the potential of alcohol being permitted more broadly at matches, many talk hesitantly in light of the events that followed the Men’s Scottish Cup quarter-final less than half a year ago. After this scene, which was terrible enough without drunkenness worsening it, the return of alcohol to matches is unpopular with many, particularly for certain men’s domestic matches. The success at the Women’s World Cup on Tuesday did not seem to have reassured one student who voiced that they felt it likely “just wouldn’t work the same at the men’s game” and referenced the events earlier this year.
But ‘high risk’ games are not the sort that the Scottish Football Association and Scottish Professional Football League are exploring the potential of fewer restrictions on alcohol consumption at; there is ongoing piloting of controlled alcohol consumption inside stadia at matches assessed as ‘low risk,’ including Scotland’s Men’s Nations League matches at Hampden Park.
Another student who has attended the football regularly with the ban having been in place their entire life told The Student they found the fervour that “you sometimes see” for alcohol in the stands “weird,” though admitting that may be because it seems “unfamiliar” to them. But many students also said that this would further encourage them to try to watch the game in person rather than enjoying it at the pub.
Photo by Giovanna Gomes on Unsplash under the Unsplash license.
