Falkirk promise to hunt down culprits
SICK football fans lobbed false eyes on to the pitch and chanted abuse at Dunfermline star Dean Shiels during the match against Falkirk yesterday.
Shiels has been living with only one eye since surgery in 2006 after a childhood accident.
Falkirk last night promised to hunt for those responsible and punish them.
A statement on the club’s website said: “Falkirk FC apologise unreservedly to Dean Shiels and Dunfermline Athletic FC for the abhorrent behaviour of a small number of individuals.
“The club condemn the abuse witnessed in the strongest terms and will be working to identify those responsible. Abuse towards anyone with a disability is simply unacceptable.
“We will look to take action against anyone identified and will not allow this disgraceful behaviour to be repeated.”
During a match between the fierce rivals in October, Falkirk players Kevin O’Hara and Joe McKee taunted Shiels about his eye.
The SFA opened up an inquiry into the abuse, and O’Hara was banned for eight matches and McKee for four.
The incident led to bad blood in November when the two clubs next met, and Dunfermline stars Kallum Higginbotham and Declan McManus were sent off.
Both clubs had called for calm before yesterday’s derby at East End Park but some Falkirk fans ignored their pleas and threw plastic eyeballs from the away end. Dunfermline beat their rivals 2-0.
Dunfermline boss Alan Johnston was sickened by the abuse and later praised Shiels, a Northern Ireland international who has played for Hibernian, Kilmarnock and Rangers.
He said: “You never like to hear stuff like that – it’s poor.
“Dean showed great discipline out there. I thought the whole team did and that’s why it was important to get the win with all the stuff going on in the background.
“Having said that, I think a lot of the Falkirk fans left early so I don’t think they saw too much. Dean has had a lot to deal with, the whole club have. We have dealt with it professionally and we have just got to move on.
“The most important thing is we got the win. You can see the rivalry between Dunfermline and Falkirk.”