Under proposed legislation to be presented to the Cabinet by the new Lord Advocate Frank Mulholland, football supporters who cause sectarian disruption at matches or online will face up to five years in jail.

Currently people who cause disruption at matches can be charged with breach of the peace, with a maximum one-year sentence.

However the new laws would include behaviour that is threatening, abusive, disorderly or offensive, with a maximum jail term of five years.

Online hate crime, such as comments posted on Twitter, will also be included in the legislation and would carry the same punishment.

In a BBC interview, First Minister Alex Salmond said he wanted to pass the legislation before the football season began in July.

Stewart Regan, the Scottish FA chief executive, said: ``The Scottish FA welcomes the First Minister's pledge to provide tougher legislation to tackle the problem of sectarianism.

``We look forward to the Scottish Government taking the lead to offer clarity on the issue of sectarianism and other forms of discriminatory behaviour within Scottish football.

``This will require consultation through the Joint Action Group to establish clearly defined parameters for this necessary legislation to work practically in a football context.''