SLAP OF HONOUR
Raging diehard Celtic fan Tony, 61, lamps snivelling pitch invader at Champions League tie .. and sheriff shows him mercy
A LIFELONG Celtic fan who slapped a drunken moron for running on to the Parkhead pitch during Tuesday’s Champions League match was yesterday shown mercy by a sheriff. Tony Lavelle, 61, lashed out at idiot John Hatton, 21, for bringing shame and possible
UEFA sanctions to the club he has supported since he was a boy.
Hatton pathetically tried to kick Paris Saint-Germain’s teenage superstar Kylian Mbappe in Celtic’s 5-0 defeat – but missed by miles and was quickly huckled off the pitch by stewards.
Hoops fans were furious with Hatton and there was “jostling” to get to him as he was led away.
Tony landed a blow and found himself in the dock yesterday – shortly after Hatton appeared.
But while Glasgow sheriff Sukhwinder Gill laid into Northern Irishman Hatton and banned him from every football ground in Britain, she went easy on Tony.
She refused a Crown motion to also have him banned from football, and instead issued a reduced fine.
Gill told Tony: “I can understand how you felt – the frustration of yourself and others in the stadium. You are a man of 61 and your last conviction was 42 years ago.
“With something of this nature, I would normally call for reports but I won’t in this occasion.
“You have been going to football matches for 48 years with no trouble and you take your nephew to matches. If Celtic Football Club wish to revoke your season ticket, that’s a matter for them – but I would hope they would see sense.”
Asbestos remover Tony – who is Scottish but now lives in St Albans, Hertfordshire – was fined £400 and allowed to leave court a free man after admitting punching Hatton.
Earlier, Tony’s lawyer Ann McKinlay told the court: “My client has simply struck out. He started going to watch Celtic when he was a wee boy.
“He has never been in trouble at football in his life. He takes his epileptic nephew to the games.
“His last conviction was 42 years ago when he was 19.
“Mr Lavelle was far from the only person who was angry about the pitch invasion. The consequences for the club could be very serious. UEFA could make them play their matches behind closed doors.
“I am asking your ladyship not to impose a football banning order.
“He is willing to pay a fine, he regrets what he has done.”
Tony spoke only to say that the punch he delivered to the side of Hatton’s head was “more of a slap”.
At one point, Gill asked
If Celtic wish to revoke your season ticket, that’s a matter for them.. but I’d hope they would see sense
McKinley: “Was it a case that Mr Lavelle managed to get to him first?”
McKinlay responded: “I don’t know about that but he managed to get to him.”
Hatton, from County Armagh, is facing a greater punishment for his disgraceful behaviour.
The Tesco worker wept in the dock as Gill blasted his shameful behaviour at a “high profile match” watched by millions on TV.
He admitted assault and invading the pitch but was granted bail and sentence was deferred for reports.
Before the match, the yob had posted on social media, encouraging Celtic to get stuck into the French side’s star striker Neymar. He tweeted: “Make that first tackle known, as soon as Neymar takes that first touch... hit him as hard and as fair as you can. Come on the Bhoys!!!”
The comment led to Hatton being mocked for his antics.
Bookmakers Coral tweeted: “A Celtic fan ran onto the pitch & tried to kick Mbappe, missing by miles. To be fair that’s the closest anyone has got to Mbappe tonight...”
Brendan Rodgers also blasted Hatton’s actions.
He said: “It is disappointing at any ground that a supporter gets on to the pitch.
“I am sure the club will deal with that. It shouldn’t be anything that we should see on a football field.”
UEFA have fined Celtic 11 times in six years over fan behaviour issues ranging from pro-IRA chants to fireworks, crowd disturbances and illicit banners.
Hatton was among seven Celtic fans arrested at the Champion’s League clash. Four of them appeared in court yesterday.
Paul Mills, 31, pled not guilty to breach of the peace while Mark Hislop denied offences under the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act.