THE fine issued to Celtic striker Leigh Griffiths for singing an offensive song about refugees should be donated to groups working with those seeking sanctuary in Scotland, it has been claimed.

A leading charity, academic prominent MSP have both called on the football authorities to channel the sanction issued to Griffith and any other player guilty of similar offences to frontline organisations.

One said the £2500 fine handed down to the Celtic player by the Scottish FA for his song about former Hearts star Rudi Skacel "would be much better invested in translation services than tracksuits".

Anti-sectarian campaigners Nil By Mouth said the move, with the refugee crisis dominating the European news agenda, would show football taking a lead on the issue.

The SNP's James Dornan, who heads to Serbia with a local charity working withy refugees this week, has said he will seek information on how the SFA uses fines from players.

It is understood the SFA discussed proposals for similar donations with previous fines and such a move has support from within Hampden but it has said to do so in this instance would require a change of policy from the organisation.

The 24-year-old, currently the SPFL's top scorer, was handed a two-game suspended ban by the SFA after the player admitted to chanting Skacel was "a f***ing refugee" when in a pub with supporters of previous club Hibernian. The incident was caught on camera and made public.

Griffiths was admonished in court after pleading guilty in September but had to attend a hearing at Hampden Park last week.

He was also fined £2500 after being accused of "not acting in the best interests of association football by singing in public a song of an offensive, racist and/or discriminatory nature".

Nil by Mouth campaign director Dave Scott said: "Its always hugely disappointing when high profile sportsmen abuse people simply because they are a different nationality, religion or skin colour and the SFA was correct to take disciplinary action in this case.

"There is however a real opportunity to replace these negative headlines and show football as a force for good by donating the fine, in full, so the money can be used supporting some of the most vulnerable people on the planet.

"We have seen a huge groundswell of support for refugees in recent weeks and across Scotland groups and support networks are being set up to help. By taking this action Scottish football can stand up to be counted with them.

"It would be much better invested in translation services than tracksuits."

Dr Michael Rosie, a member of the Scottish Government's expert group on sectarianism, which has called on Scottish football take take more ownership of discriminatory behaviour around the game, said: "This is a brilliant opportunity to make a statement on football's core values. This money from the player, matched by the SFA, could've gone to a refugee charity. Mr Griffith's might have delivered the cheque himself."

Mr Dornan added: "As someone who is a lover of football and involved with a local charity in helping refugees I think this is a great idea.

"I will be writing to the SFA to ask just what happens to the money raised from fines such as these, if it's not already going to good causes then here is a great way of something good happening from something incredibly distasteful."

An SFA spokesman said: "This would have to be a policy decision and not done in isolation."

Meanwhile, police have been accused of confiscating banners bound for Sunday's Hamilton v Celtic match. were confiscated.

Fans Against Criminalisation said an anti-bigotry law designed to stamp out offensive behaviour at matches needs to be scrapped. The force denies the intervention. A petition signed by more than 9,000 people objecting to the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Act 2012 will be handed to a Holyrood committee today.