Unacceptable Conduct Policy

Keith Football Club aims to create and maintain an environment where spectators can enjoy the game of football, safe in the knowledge that they are free from all forms of harassment, abuse, unacceptable or disorderly conduct.

 

Definition

Unacceptable conduct is conduct which is violent or disorderly.  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

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

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

Proven racial harassment or abuse will lead to action being taken against spectators and will be reported to the police and may result in a life ban from Keith Football Club.  Keith FC will give their full support to the police in any criminal actions.

All employees, committee members, players and servants of the Club have a responsibility to make it clear that such behaviour by anyone connected with Keith FC is unacceptable.

Supporters should also note that racist taunts and abusive or threatening behaviour will not be tolerated by Keith FC and will be encouraged to condemn and report such behaviour.

Any supporters (home or visiting) behaving in this way will face eviction from the stadium and their actions will be reported to the police.  Season ticket holders who conduct themselves in this manner face their season ticket revoked and all spectators face the prospect of a life ban from Kynoch Park.

Keith FC fully supports and will promote the Show Racism the Red Card Campaign, details of which can be found at www.srtrc.org.

 

Sectarianism – Kick Out Bigotry the Pledge

Scottish football fans have earned a world 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 out of football grounds we can demonstrate that Scottish football fans and in particular Keith FC supports:

  • Respect people of all backgrounds and celebrate the multicultural society that Scotland has become in the 21st Century
  • Want their football club, and the support for their clubs, to reflect the diversity of modern Scottish society; and
  • Are as passionate about their football club as they are about their national team.

Keith Football Club supports the pledge at Kick Out Bigotry, and the Club encourage all Keith FC supporters to also sign the Kick Out Bigotry Pledge.

 

Consequences

ANY PERSON ENGAGING IN UNACCEPTABLE CONDUCT MAY BE SUBJECT TO ANY, OR A COMBINATION OF THE FOLLOWING:

  • Removal from the Kynoch Park or away stadium
  • Suspension from attending home matches involving Keith Football Club
  • Indefinite ban from attending home matches involving Keith Football Club
  • Suspension or ban from the Keith Football Club Committee
  • Suspension or ban as a Player or Coach from the Keith 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 involves the minority of individuals in our society, Keith Football Club wishes to ensure that we continue to maintain the highest standards on and off the field of plat and that the name ‘Keith Football Club’ is associated with good and sporting behaviour at all times.

 

Updated 18 January 2012