http://news.scotsman.com/scotland/Football-fans-banned-and-fined.4816990.jp
Published Date: 23 December 2008
By Charlotte Thomson
SEVEN football fans were yesterday fined a total of £7,500 and banned from grounds for three years after a riot.
Aberdeen fans clashed with Celtic supporters in an organised fight involving about 60 football casuals outside a hotel in the city 17 February last year.
The brawl broke out about 15 minutes after kick-off at Pittodrie. Four of the Celtic fanADVERTISEMENT
s were previously banned from every football ground in the UK for a total of seven years.
At Aberdeen Sheriff Court yesterday Tony Cross, 21, Nicholas Dalgleish, 18, Scott Grant, 20, Rognvald Harcus, 24, Dale McKeith, 19, and Dean Watson, 19, were each banned for three years. The men, from Aberdeen, previously pleaded guilty to breach of the peace by forming a disorderly group and fighting.
Sheriff Douglas Cusine told them: "This kind of behaviour is completely unacceptable. Each of you came close to being put in prison. There will be a three-year football banning order for each of you." Grant was fined £500 and the others £1,000. Their friend, Colin Ord, 22, admitted breach of the peace and throwing a stick. He had a previous conviction for a football-related offence, and Mr Cusine told him:
"It seems clear you have not learned your lesson … you will be fined £2,000."
An Aberdeen FC spokesman said the club "welcomes the decision to issue banning orders to those involved in the Gordon Hotel incident.
"We will continue to work closely with all of the relevant authorities to ensure that the small minority who continue to besmirch the good name of AFC, and indeed the game in general, realise this type of behaviour is unacceptable."
Grampian Police Chief Supt Albert Donald said: "These convictions are good news for legitimate football fans and will serve as a strong deterrent."
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