Source - The Herald 12/07/11

Tough controls on the sale of alcohol could be brought in to tackle football-related disorder.

Senior police officers would be given the power to ask courts for restrictions at licensed premises in areas where trouble is expected.

Changes could also be made to alcohol laws to vary opening hours and restrict sales around games.

The proposals are among 40 recommendations agreed by a Scottish Government-backed joint action group which includes football bosses from Celtic and Rangers. First Minister Alex Salmond took part in a meeting with the group in Glasgow, describing the recommendations as "powerful".

Other key ideas include forming a national football police unit, backed by £1.8 million from the government. All Scottish Football Association member clubs would be asked to adopt a code of conduct for players and fans, with sanctions in place for those who break the code.

The New Year Old Firm derby match for the 2011-12 season would be rescheduled to the evening of December 28, with further changes to other Celtic-Rangers games.

Mr Salmond said: "The first time the joint action group came together, Scottish football was in the spotlight for all of the wrong reasons. We have now moved on and we must never find ourselves in that position again.

"The new high-profile initiatives we have announced today, such as the national football policing unit, codes of conduct for players and commitments to reschedule key matches will make an important difference."