INJURED BY FIREWORK THROWN BY MY OWN FANS Wounded mum got fright of her life
A YOUNG mum was injured by a firework launched into the crowd by fans of her own team.
Jade Marshall says she was struck when a member of Rangers fan group the Union Bears chucked the pyrotechnic as Steven Gerrard’s men beat Livingston to reach the last four of the Betfred Cup on Wednesday night.
The 26-year-old was one of three people hurt – including a 13-year-old boy who was hit in the eye – as the teams clashed at the Tony Macaroni Arena.
The mum of one told the Record: “As soon as we arrived the atmosphere felt really aggressive. We were seated next to the Union Bears, dressed in black, wearing balaclavas and banging a drum.
“It was really intimidating – I was too scared to sit there.
“I told security but they just told me to sit somewhere else or stand in the stairwell. The next thing I knew this thing flew in front of me and I got the fright of my life.
“It hit me on the leg, just below my knee. It was really terrifying.”
Full-time mum Jade, from Kirkcudbright, Dumfries and Galloway, was rushed to medics for help and is now to see her doctor to check if it needs further treatment.
She said: “It’s just so worrying. I’m a loyal fan and I like going to games but this kind of behaviour really frightening.
“I’m just glad I didn’t have my four-year-old son with me, it could have been so much worse if it had hit him.”
Jade said other fans left their seats to distance themselves from the Union Bears.
Police Scotland said one of their officers was hit by a coin thrown by a fan in the away end during the quarter-final tie that Rangers won 1-0.
Chief Inspector Neil Mitchell, the officer in charge of the policing operation for the match, said: “Taking pyrotechnics into a football stadium is not only an offence, it is extremely dangerous.
“The injuries sustained by the woman and boy caused by the devices, and the consequences, could have had been so much worse.
“Once again, it is extremely disappointing and worrying that despite repeated warnings about the risk pyrotechnics bring, a small minority continue to smuggle them into matches.
“It is only down to luck that their injuries were minor. If this continues, it can only be a matter of time before someone is injured more seriously.
“One of my officers was also struck by a coin thrown from the same group of supporters. This is also unacceptable and will not be tolerated.
“We have a retrospective investigation ongoing and are working closely with both clubs to identify those responsible.”
Last night, the Union Bears defended the use of flares and smoke bombs – although they urged fans not to use fire-crackers in crowded areas.
The statement said: “The Union Bears support the safe use of pyrotechnics inside and outside football stadiums.
“Whilst this is our stance, we would like to discourage supporters from using firecrackers inside the stands. These fire-crackers are endangering our supporters when set off in crowded areas.”