A drunken Aberdeen football fan caught with a smoke grenade at a packed out Dundee United stadium on New Year’s Day was yesterday banned from attending matches for two years.
Findlay Duncan, 21, from Inverurie, Aberdeenshire, was spotted holding the pyrotechnic device in the Shed end at Tannadice during United’s clash with the Dons.
Placing him under a football banning order for two years, Sheriff Tom Hughes told Duncan he was an “embarrassment” to his team and to Scottish football.
Duncan and another fan were arrested by police at the Premier League match on Jan- uary 1.
Before the match police were called to the Ambassador Bar in Clepington Road – a stone’s throw from the stadium – after a smoke bomb had been set off.
Duncan was snared inside the stadium after several flares had been let off in the Shed end – housing Aberdeen fans.
The court heard earlier police entered the stand and saw Duncan holding a black canister.
Fiscal depute Douglas Wiseman told Dundee Sheriff Court that when he was spotted by the police he was then seen to place the canister under his seat.
He was arrested and taken to Bell Street HQ.
Duncan, of Kellands Road, Inverurie, previously admitted being in possession of a pyrotechnic (smoke grenade) at the match.
His solicitor Christopher Maitland yesterday said he was “deeply remorseful” for the stunt.
He said: “He did not arrive at the game in possession of the flare – he was given it in the stand and only possessed it for about a minute.
“He did not know how to set it off and had no intention to set it off.
“He has expressed significant remorse and appears to have learned his lesson having spent two days in custody.”
Sheriff Hughes told Duncan he took a very serious view of his conduct.
He said: “You are not a first offender. This type of conduct is totally unacceptable and has been causing concern to football authorities and to people who attend football matches recently.
“Flares are extremely dangerous. When they are put off they make it extremely difficult for fans.
“This must be eradicated from Scottish football.”
Sheriff Hughes said the maximum sentence he could impose was 60 days in prison but he said he thought that was “totally inadequate”.
He said: “I will be placing a community payback order on you. You must complete 120 hours of unpaid work. I am also making you subject to a football banning order.
“You are an embarrassment to your club and Scottish football. You are not wanted in Scottish football unless you can radically change your behaviour.”
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