Policies

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UEFA Ten Point Plan of Action

Arbroath FC Has Adopted the UEFA Ten Point Plan of Action for Professional Football Clubs

  1. Issue a statement saying the club will not tolerate racism, spelling out the action it will take against those engaged in racist chanting. The statement should be printed in all match programmes and displayed permanently and prominently around the ground.
  2. Make public address announcements condemning racist chanting at matches.
  3. Make it a condition for season ticket holders that they do not take part in racist abuse.
  4. Take action to prevent the sale of racist literature inside and outside the ground.
  5. Take disciplinary action against players who engage in racial abuse.
  6. Contact other clubs to make sure they understand the club’s policy on racism.
  7. Encourage a common strategy between stewards and police for dealing with racist abuse.
  8. Remove all racist graffiti from the ground as a matter of urgency.
  9. Adopt an equal opportunities policy in relation to employment and service provision.
  10. Work with all other groups and agencies, such as the players union, supporters, schools, voluntary organisations, youth clubs, sponsors, local authorities, local businesses and police, to develop pro-active programmes and make progress to raise awareness of campaigning to eliminate racial abuse and discrimination.

Behaviour Policy

Arbroath Football Club is a community Club and wishes to portray a family atmosphere at its matches to encourage everyone to enjoy football at Gayfield Park in a friendly atmosphere. As such, bad behaviour, persistent use of foul or abusive language or any forms of racial or sectarian abuse will not be tolerated. Offenders are liable to be ejected from the stadium.

ARBROATH F.C. – UNACCEPTABLE CONDUCT STATEMENT

The Scottish Professional Football League has introduced guidance effective from 1st January, 2017, whereby all Clubs must issue and publish a written statement that clearly indicates that they condemn and will not tolerate any form of Unacceptable Conduct by any person at Official matches at its Home Ground and by or amongst its Supporters, Officials, Players and others connected to the Club at Away Matches.

The Board of Directors of Arbroath FC fully supports this Guidance. Arbroath FC is a Community Club and at all times wishes to portray a family atmosphere at its Matches and to encourage everyone to enjoy football at Gayfield Park in a friendly atmosphere.

As such, bad behaviour, persistent use of foul or abusive language or any forms of racial or sectarian abuse will not be tolerated.

All persons attending matches at Gayfield Park are absolutely expected to abide by the terms of this Policy and the SPFL Regulations.

Anyone failing to comply with this Guidance is liable to be ejected from the Stadium.

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

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

A racist incident is defined by Arbroath Football Club as any incident that is perceived to be racist by the victim, or any other person. Racial harassment is defined by the 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 Arbroath Football Club is unacceptable.

Supporters should also note that racist taunts and abusive or threatening behaviour will not be tolerated by Arbroath 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 Police Scotland and may result in a life ban from Arbroath Football Club. The Club will give their full support to the Police in any criminal investigation.

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 Gayfield Park.

Sectarianism

Scottish football fans have earned a word 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 Arbroath 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 Gayfield Park or away stadium
  • Suspension or indefinite ban from attending home matches involving Arbroath Football Club
  • Suspension or ban from holding Arbroath Football Club membership
  • Suspension or ban as a Player or Coach from Arbroath 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, Arbroath 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 Arbroath Football Club is associated with good and sporting behaviour at all times.

Pyrotechnic Devices

The Club’s Board of Directors wish to make it explicitly clear that the possession and/or use of any type of Pyrotechnic device within Gayfield Park is strictly forbidden. These devices are very dangerous and have the potential to cause significant injury.

The Club strives to ensure that Gayfield Park is a safe environment for all Supporters to come to and enjoy watching football. Accordingly Arbroath Football Club reserves the right to search any person seeking entry to the Stadium who may be in possession of any type of Pyrotechnic Device which could lead to an incident of Unacceptable Conduct. Any such article found during such a search will be confiscated by the Club and if appropriate, handed to Police Scotland for further investigation.

Any such person refusing to be searched will be denied access to the Stadium and any Season Ticket or Match Ticket shall be liable to confiscation without compensation and that person may be liable to such other proportionate sanction as the Club may determine.

Flags/Banners

Likewise any person in possession of any Flag/Banner which may contain offensive or otherwise unacceptable material which may cause or be part of any Incident of Unacceptable Conduct will not be permitted entry to the Stadium. The Club reserves the right to confiscate without compensation any Season Ticket/Match Ticket held by that person and that person may also be liable to such other proportionate action as the Club may determine.

General

The Club will fully cooperate with the Police and Match Officials in relation to any alleged incident of Unacceptable Conduct within Gayfield Park. In addition and if appropriate, the Club may undertake an internal investigation in relation to any allegation of Unacceptable Conduct committed within the Stadium.

Any person who is convicted of a Football related criminal offence or who has breached the Club’s Unacceptable Conduct policy, may be subject to appropriate action by the Club.

Arbroath Football Club will as required at the end of each Football season, provide the SPFL with a full report containing any incidents of Unacceptable Conduct and document the action taken by the Club in respect of any such incident.

To conclude, Arbroath Football Club expects all Club Officials, Players, Employees, Volunteers and anyone entering Gayfield Stadium to comply with this Unacceptable Conduct policy and when appropriate to assist the Club in responding to any form of Unacceptable conduct.

December, 2022.

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