Ballboy charged over sectarian comments claim at St Mirren v Celtic match
Nov 16 2010 Exclusive by Keith Mcleod
A BALLBOY was charged yesterday after allegedly making a sectarian slur at Sunday's St Mirren v Celtic SPL clash.
It is understood police visited New St Mirren Park in Paisley to speak to the 18-year-old after Celtic fans reported him over the alleged incident.
The youth, who plays for St Mirren's under-19 team, could face a Scotland-wide football stadium ban if convicted.
A police spokeswoman said: "An 18-year-old male will be reported to the procurator fiscal for an alleged breach of the peace with religious football aggravation following an incident which took place on November 14, 2010."
It is believed Celtic fans in one part of the ground made a formal complaint after the alleged incident.
Celtic won the match in injury time with a goal from Gary Hooper.
A small number of Celtic fans went on to the pitch to celebrate, but the mini-invasion was seen as nothing more than highspiritedness.
It is believed the incident happened earlier in the match.
The stadium opened only last season and one of its attractions is the closeness of the fans to the pitch.
Youth players are regularly used as ballboys by teams in Scotland.
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STOP PRESS *UPDATE*
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http://www.paisleydailyexpress.co.uk/renfrewshire-news/2010/11/17/saints-chief-backs-ballboy-87085-27666625/
Saints chief backs ballboy
Nov 17 2010 by Andy Newport, Paisley Daily Express
ST MIRREN bosses have leapt to the defence of one of their youth players after he was charged with being involved in shouting sectarian abuse at Celtic supporters.
Club chiefs are backing the 18-year-old following an alleged confrontation with away fans in the moments after the Buddies’ live TV clash with the Old Firm giants on Sunday.
The Paisley Daily Express understands that key to the player’s claim of innocence is that he actually is a Roman Catholic CELTIC fan!
The youngster – who plays for the Paisley club’s Under-19 side but was acting as a ballboy during the game – was charged by cops on Monday after they visited St Mirren Park to question him on the post-match incident.
They acted after receiving a complaint from Celtic fans.
But Saints general manager Brian Caldwell said the player is “100 per cent innocent”.
He has now rounded up a list of witnesses willing to back up the teenager’s denial.
Mr Caldwell said: “We are totally defending our player.
“Having carried out our own internal investigation and looked at CCTV footage of the incident, we are backing him 100 per cent.”
Mr Caldwell then blasted: “We feel the decision to charge him was wrong. This investigation is a waste of the police’s time and money. It’s a disgrace.”
It was originally claimed that five Celtic fans had witnessed the incident and were willing to back the allegation that the St Mirren youth had lobbed a sectarian slur towards them.
However, the Express understands that four of them have now dropped their claims.
The Saints starlet’s career could be left in ruins if he is convicted of the offence, with one punishment available to judges a Scotland-wide football stadium ban.
But Mr Caldwell added: “We have four or five of our own stewards who witnessed the incident and are backing our player’s story.
“It’s a real shame for the lad to have to go through this when he has not done anything wrong.
“He’s grown up supporting Celtic so why would he hurl a sectarian slur at their fans?
“His head is in a real mess right now and he is really worried. It should never have got this far.”
A police spokeswoman confirmed that a complaint had been made.
She said: “An 18-year-old male will be reported to the procurator fiscal for an alleged breach of the peace with religious football aggravation following an incident which took place on November 14, 2010.”
A spokeswoman for the crown office, however, claimed the procurator fiscal had yet to recieve the police report.
Mr Caldwell added: “Our hope is that once it goes to the PF they will throw it out."
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