Scottish Football Association chief executive Stewart Regan says a “middle ground” is achievable in the fight against unacceptable behaviour that does not leave clubs fully liable for the actions of supporters.
The governing body had hoped to introduce tough new measures for those found guilty of racist and sectarian offences that would have punished clubs on the basis of “strict liability”.
But just 5% of the association’s 93 member clubs backed the motion at the SFA annual meeting at Hampden as they expressed fears that they could be held accountable for unruly fans.
Regan admitted the plan had been “too onerous” but with a working party now set to examine a compromise, he insisted a workable solution was achievable.
The Hampden chief said: “The clubs have asked us to set up a working party to establish whether there is a viable deterrent for unacceptable behaviour that lies somewhere in between our current rule and strict liability.
“Our members accept we need to do more, to work harder to stamp out unacceptable behaviour but to move from our current rule where clubs are allowed to defend such cases by saying they are taking all reasonable steps to a new proposal of strict liability was a step too far.
“The current rules are written in such a way that we haven’t been successful in bringing any prosecution forward but there has to be some sort of middle ground that moves us forward.”
The proposal has been pushed by Fifa and Uefa, who have both adopted stances of “zero-tolerance” in relation to dis-criminatory behaviour in recent months.
Among the deterrents they want to see introduced are a minimum five-game ban for offending players and points deductions and stadium bans for clubs who allow fans to shout racist and offensive chants.
Regan added: “We’re disappointed because this was an opportunity rather than a threat to try and deal with our own affairs, to get them in order prior to the world governing body telling us how they feel we should deal with such matters.
“When you compare the behaviour in Scotland with countries elsewhere in Europe, you might argue we might not have as serious an issue as exists elsewhere.
“But there are localised pockets inScotland where the behaviour is preventing families from coming back into the ground. We want to deal with that with a proactive approach. The SFA doesn’t want to wait to be told, we want to take responsibility ourselves for sorting out our own issues.”
The SFA members did back plans for a new Lowland League as a first step towards creating a pyramid structure for the game.
The new set-up is planned to be up and running by the beginning of the forthcoming season, with expressions of interest already posted by 27 clubs from the South of Scotland League, East of Scotland League and Scottish Junior FA.
Between 10 and 16 who meet certain criteria, such as ground regulations, will be selected to take part in the new competition but promotion will not be on offer at the end of its first year.
Instead, it will be season 2015/16 before the Lowland League champions will be handed the chance to play-off against the winners of the Highland League.
The victor of that match will then take on the bottom side in the Irn-Bru Third Division with a place in the senior ranks at stake.
The clubs selected for the new league will be able to elect a representative to sit on the SFA’s professional game board and will each have access to youth funding and prize money.
A £40,000 bonanza will also be on offer to any club who wins promotion to the Third Division.