Football fan pleads guilty to “racial abuse” of Hibs player

A FOOTBALL fan has pleaded guilty to “racial abuse” of a Hibs player as five other men were given banning orders.

Police say a 46-year-old man was fined and handed a football banning order (FBO) at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on 21 January, 2025, after pleading guilty to a racial abuse offence at the Hearts vs Hibs game on Boxing Day last year.

Two men, aged 19 and 22, were also issued with FBOs at Dunfermline Sheriff Court on 15 January after pleading guilty to assaulting a teenager, relating to violence at the Dunfermline vs Raith Rovers match on 2 January, 2024.

Three other men, aged 26, 27 and 62, have also been slapped with FBOs this month for offences at separate football matches.

The 26-year-old pleaded guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court on 8 January after a pitch incursion at the Celtic vs Aberdeen fixture on 12 November, 2023.

The 62-year-old pleaded guilty at Aberdeen Sheriff Court on 9 January to assault to injury at the Aberdeen vs Dundee game on 13 March, 2024.

The 27-year-old also pleaded guilty at Aberdeen Sheriff Court on 20 January to a breach of the peace following disorder at the Aberdeen vs Rangers match on 23 April, 2023.

Assistant chief constable Gary Ritchie said: “We should all be able to go to a football match and enjoy the game without fear of violence or disorder.

“We will use all available tools at our disposal to eradicate this unacceptable behaviour.

“Football banning orders can be instrumental in helping us keep fans, players and our communities safe.

“We will continue to work with the clubs and courts to tackle criminality.”

Calum Beattie, the SPFL’s chief operating officer, said: “We warmly applaud the robust approach from the police and courts in dealing with this disgraceful behaviour, as well as the swift action taken by our clubs to identify the individuals involved.

“The fact that a football banning order was imposed in these cases is entirely appropriate and we welcome the use of this restriction as an effective deterrent to other forms of unacceptable behaviour in stadia.”