Date: 19th August 2026

SFSA STATEMENT OF FACIAL RECOGNITION AND MASS SURVEILLANCE 

 

Ten years ago the Scottish Government rightly rejected a £4 million funding request from the SPFL for a rollout of facial recognition and biometric surveillance to target fan misconduct in football.

 

Now HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary in Scotland has renewed the call for ‘ambitious’ use of new surveillance technology, citing pyros and football related violence and disorder.

 

The Scottish Football Supporters Association (SFSA), the national fans’ organisation, remains opposed to intrusive mass surveillance that treats innocent supporters like suspects.

 

Biometric facial scanning alienates the public, raises significant civil liberties and privacy concerns, seriously undermines the ability to seek cooperation from the vast majority of fans in dealing with the misconduct of a minority.

 

It also violates the effectiveness of policing with community consent, engagement and participation, and potentially threatens the matchday safety of ordinary police officers and stewards.

 

We urge the police authorities to set aside this reckless proposal, and instead to focus on deepening cooperation with ourselves, local fans groups and clubs in building a community safety approach to isolate trouble-makers from the majority of people and families who simply wish to enjoy the game in a positive atmosphere.

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