Trading "exclusion zones" will be set up

The city council's licensing committee is creating "exclusion zones" outside Ibrox, Parkhead, Hampden and even Partick Thistle's Firhill stadium.

The council hopes to have the ban in place before the start of the new football season.

However, traders say they are seeking greater clarity on the proposed regulations.

The council has designated exclusion zones outside both Rangers' and Celtic's grounds.

Sectarian content

It follows a similar crackdown on city pubs deemed sectarian.

A bar in Govan has already been refused a licence extension by Glasgow Licensing Board because it featured paramilitary memorabilia on the walls.

The new ban outlaws the sale of football memorabilia featuring any design, insignia or words which have a political, racial, religious or sectarian content.

Councillor Irene Graham said: "What it will mean is that no longer will we see memorabilia and football goods being sold outside any of these stadiums that has any kind of sectarian nature.

Our main concern has been that the clubs have hijacked the issue to promote their own commercial interests Ian Fitzpatrick Street Traders Association

"We think that is only to the good in Glasgow."

However, Ian Fitzpatrick of the Street Traders Association said the organisation had been seeking clarity on the issue.

"Our main concern has been that the clubs have hijacked the issue to promote their own commercial interests," he said.

"They have used the issue of sectarianism to try to alienate traders from outside football grounds."

Traders have also warned that European law may prevent the council changing their licence conditions without better consultation.

Cllr Graham said the football clubs had contacted the local authority to raise concerns that illegal and possibly counterfeit goods were being sold.

There is a big difference between a football jersey that is simply displaying the colours and one that incites sectarianism Councillor Irene Graham

"However, that element of their proposals is not being considered by the licensing committee today," she said

"What we are looking at is the sectarian issue.

"Although the clubs approached us about the trading issue, they also approached us about the sectarian goods that are on sale."

She acknowledged that there was no precise definition of sectarianism being put before the council.

But she added: "Everybody knows what is sectarianism and what isn't sectarianism.

'Scourge of hate'

"There is a big difference between a football jersey that is simply displaying the colours and one that incites sectarianism."

Liberal Democrat MSP Donald Gorrie said the council's decision was a step in the right direction.

He said: "When I previously raised the issue with the council a couple of years ago they said that it could not be done.