3.The Act addresses the requirements of the Union of European Football Associations (“UEFA”) in order for Glasgow to co-host its European Championship in 2021. It provides the Scottish Ministers and Glasgow City Council with the powers necessary to fulfil these requirements, which relate to commercial rights protection. Glasgow is the sole council area to which the Act applies.
4.The main measures of the Act:
prohibit the unauthorised sale of Championship tickets in excess of face value or with a view to making a profit;
prohibit unauthorised street trading within an event zone when the zone is in operation;
prohibit unauthorised advertising within an event zone when the zone is in operation;
create criminal offences for ticket touting, and for unauthorised street trading and advertising. In relation to ticket touting, which will be triable summarily only, the maximum penalty on conviction will be a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale (currently £5,000). In relation to unauthorised street trading and advertising, the maximum penalties will be a fine not exceeding £20,000 on summary conviction, or an unlimited fine on conviction on indictment;
provide for the designation of enforcement officers empowered to enforce the advertising, street trading and ticket touting offences, and make it a criminal offence to obstruct them in their duties, with penalties on summary conviction of a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale;
provide that Glasgow City Council must publish guidance on the advertising and trading restrictions, and that Glasgow City Council must offer affected street traders alternative trading arrangements; and
automatically repeal the Act from the statute book on 31 December 2022.
5.The Act is structured in 37 sections under seven italic headings. Commentary on the effect of individual sections follows below.