An oil worker was today handed a football ban – after he admitted trying to brawl with rival fans on his way to a Scottish Premiership match.
Brian Wright admitted “forming part of a disorderly crowd” as tensions flared ahead of a Dundee United v Aberdeen match at Tannadice Stadium, Dundee, last December.
Wright, an Aberdeen fan, got involved in a rammy in Dundee’s Main Street ahead of the top-flight clash on December 13.
He admitted “engaging in behaviour likely to incite public disorder” by repeatedly trying to engage in violence with rival fans.
A string of other fans of both clubs have already admitted similar charges – with some receiving year-long stadium bans.
Wright, 44, of Union Street, Aberdeen, pleaded guilty to a charge under the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications Act.
Kevin Hampton, defending, asked that sentence be deferred on the offshore worker for background reports to be prepared.
Sheriff George Way imposed a football banning order for one year and a community payback order with 75 hours unpaid work to be completed in three months.
Last month Dons fans Euan Stevenson and Scott Steppie were handed one-year bans and fines after they admitted being part of the disturbance before the game.
Dundee Sheriff Court heard 20 police officers – including mounted police and dog handlers – had to be drafted in to quell the near riot.
The pair were part of a group of up to 65 Aberdeen fans who were monitored on police CCTV as they travelled from Dundee rail station to the stadium.
Three Dundee men also admitted identical charges relating to the same incidents.
Lemmy Milne, Alexander Middleton and Grant Fender appeared at Dundee Sheriff Court where they pleaded guilty to charges of being part of a disorderly crowd on the day of the Dundee United v Aberdeen match on December 13 last year.
They were also handed football banning orders as well as community payback orders over the rammy.
Cops launched dawn raids on those suspected to be involved in incidents around the match.
Although there were no incidents within Tannadice during the match itself there were widespread reports of fighting and disorder around the ground.