ABSTRACT
Scotland's relationship with football has historically included both positive and negative reflections of Scottish society. Scottish football has been dominated for large periods of its history by Rangers and Celtic; sometimes known collectively, but not affectionately, as the 'Old Firm'. To tackle football-related sectarian bigotry, the ruling Scottish National Party (SNP) passed the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications Act (OBFA); proposing that any behaviour that expresses hatred against an individual or group, based upon their membership of a religious group or a social or cultural group with 'a perceived religious affiliation', should become classified as a criminal offence. One of the main reasons why there has been no joint action between Celtic and Rangers supporters against the OBFA is that the online relationship between sections of the Celtic and Rangers support is one of extreme hostility and loathing.
