All criminal charges have been dropped against a Highland League footballer who was accused of racially abusing Dons defender Shay Logan.
Alexander Thoirs, who plays for Huntly, appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court from custody on Christmas Eve after a “threatening and offensive” image and comment appeared on his personal social networking site.
The 26-year-old denied the offence and claimed someone else had posted the material without his knowledge.
Mr Thoirs was due to go on trial yesterday, but last night a Crown Office spokesman revealed it no longer intended to prosecute him.
He said: “It is the duty of the Crown to keep cases under review and after full and careful consideration of the facts and circumstances of the case, the procurator fiscal instructed that no further proceedings should be taken at this time.”
“The Crown reserves the right to re-raise proceedings in future.”
The post was uploaded on November 7, just two days before the Aberdeen v Celtic clash at Pittodrie, which the Dons lost 2-1.
It then appeared on a number of Scottish football fans’ social networking sites and was retweeted by outraged supporters.
Mr Thoirs, of Birkhall Parade, Aberdeen, signed for Huntly from junior club Dyce three years ago.
In a picture posted with the offensive comment, he can be seen wearing a Celtic top at a football match with two other men.
He declined to comment when approached by the Press and Journal at his home last night.
In September last year Mr Logan was at the centre of a row between Aberdeen and Celtic after the Glasgow club’s winger Aleksandar Tonev was given a seven-match ban for racially abusing him during a match.
The Bulgarian, who was on loan from Aston Villa at the time, committed the offence when the teams played each other at Parkhead in September.
Celtic’s appeal against the ban was rejected by the Scottish Football Association in December.
A report published by the SFA said Tonev got angry when the Aberdeen defender put his arm across him moments after fouling him.