Bigotry, Football and Scotland

Academic perspectives and analysis of recent controversies relating to football and bigotry in Scottish society. Football is Scotland's most assiduously reported sport and has a proud national heritage, yet much of its history at club level has been haunted by bigotry and sectarianism. This collection investigates this contradiction and brings a fresh and intelligent analysis to an already vigorous debate. It analyses recent high profile controversies surrounding some football clubs in Scotland in an attempt to understand the continuing existence of bigotry and sectarianism and in doing so illuminates wider issues of conflict, ethnicity, gender, identity, religion and social class within Scotland. The book attempts to answer a number of questions. Is sectarian bigotry confined to the west of Scotland and is it the only prejudice needing addressed in relation to Scottish football? Are contemporary events new or do they have historic precedents? What should be the response of government, legislation, football authorities, clubs, football supporters and other institutions and organisations in Scotland? And, perhaps most importantly, what vision should we have for a sporting Scottish society and its diverse population? Features: specific focus on bigotry and football with in-depth examination of contemporary events and debates by leading scholars in the field; full analysis of the events of recent football seasons, combining social theory and history with empirical evidence from new research; coverage of emerging and under-researched issues, including gender, new legislation, sectarianism and the internet, social class and perspectives of football clubs beyond the Old Firm; and inter-disciplinary approach, providing insights from criminology, cultural studies, ethnic and racial studies, philosophy, gender studies, history, legal studies, sociology, sports studies and urban studies.