Heavy Hannds - Empty Stands Campaign

If you read the national tabloid newspapers in Scotland like The Daily Record or The Scottish Sun you could be lead to believe that Scottish football fans or more so the youth of today are all hooligans who bring terror to the streets influenced by “European Ultras who often turn to violence”. This could not be further from the truth!

There has been no serious disorder at a Scottish football game for over 30 years, however for those that do not attend football matches it would be very easy to be misled by the media and the authorities. The Scottish Government have also assisted in the criminalisation of football fans when the “Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications Bill” was rushed through parliament on 14th December 2011.

Fan groups throughout Scotland opposed this bill uniting as one and ‘Well fans were no different. The “Heavy Hands Empty Stands” campaign emerged and protests both Home and Away were visible.

At fixtures each season we have seen officers from the Football Co-Ordination Unit for Scotland (FoCus) at Fir Park filming this section of the East Stand to identify potential trouble supporters and compile a database of of these known faces. It’s simply not acceptable.

We go to the football matches to support Motherwell Football Club. We do not go to football to be filmed by police officers who use antagonizing tactics and can identify individuals by their first name. It is resulting in lifelong Motherwell supporters considering turning their back on football which emphasises our message:

Heavy Hands will result in Empty Stands.

When this campaign was launched back in 2011 it was to protect Motherwell supporters and raise awareness to the ill treatment of fans. The campaign has made massive strides since the awful treatment of Motherwell supporters in Aberdeen that season. Every club now, even Dundee United, in the SPL  allow entry for our drum with many adopting a sensible approach to standing and vocally backing our team for 90minutes.

At home we enjoy the best relations with the club in many years and we shall continue to work to improve and maintain that. We will not allow law abiding Motherwell fans to be criminalised and we urge all supporters of Motherwell Football Club to continue to back this campaign.