Football fans in ban from matches
Men in ‘disgraceful’ car park clash
Published:
A GROUP of football fans have been banned from all matches in Scotland after brawling with rival supporters in Aberdeen.
Up to 60 men took part in the organised fight at one point, the city’s sheriff court heard.
Four men, who admitted their part in the hotel car park clash, were told by a sheriff their behaviour was “nothing short of disgraceful”. And another man has to wait to find out his sentence.
Kevin Allan, 22, Hugh Fraser, 21, Grant Molloy, 21, Stephen Rodgers, 22, and Alexander Holland, 24, admitted their part in the fight which happened outside a city hotel.
Fiscal depute John Richardson told the court a bus of Celtic supporters had travelled to Aberdeen for a match in February 2007.
He said: “A match between Aberdeen and Celtic was due to kick off at 12.30pm. A significant number of the people on the bus did not go to the stadium but instead went to the Gordon Hotel where they drank and watched the football.
“Before the end of the game, they left the bar and were in the hotel car park where they were approached by another group, who were Aberdeen supporters, and a fight broke out.”
Mr Richardson said up to 60 men were involved in the brawl at one point.
Sheriff David Hall told the group: “This type of behaviour is not acceptable. It was nothing short of disgraceful.
“The public have rightful concerns over groups of men causing a public disorder.
“You all purport to be Celtic supporters and clearly your behaviour has blackened their name and you should be thoroughly ashamed of your behaviour.”
The men all admitted breaking the peace at the hotel. The court heard people had been encouraged to fight.
Allan’s defence agent Paul O’ Donnell said Allan was embarrassed by his behaviour and no longer went to football matches.
Fraser’s defence agent Mike Monro said he had been intending to go to Pittodrie stadium to watch the football, but had been delayed at the airport picking up pals from Dublin.
He then went to the Gordon Hotel where he became involved in the brawl, Mr Monro said.
The solicitor added Fraser had not intended to take part in the pre-arranged fight.
Molloy’s defence agent Bruce MacDonald said his client was the sort of person who should know better.
And Rodgers’ defence agent Chris Maitland said his client had been planning on going to Pittodrie, but due to the bus being late had ended up at the hotel and became involved in the trouble.
Sheriff Hall ordered Allan, of 5c Vicarland Place, Cambuslang; Fraser, of 5 Market Lane, Stonehaven; and Molloy, of 223 Hawick Road, Yoker, to carry out 180 hours of community service, and banned them from football matches in Scotland for two years.
Rodgers, of 61 Bickerton Terrace, Whitburn, was ordered to carry out 140 hours of unpaid work for the community and he was banned from football matches for a year.
Sentence was deferred on Holland, of 8a Tuphall Road, Hamilton, until next month for a letter from his GP.
Not guilty pleas were accepted by the Crown for Paul Currie, 27, of 51 Old Inverkip Road, Greenock; Daniel McCluskey, 20, of 27 Whitefield Avenue, Cambuslang, and John O’Kane, 40, of Flat 2, 6 Braid Street, Glasgow.
