Ban for Celtic flare thrower

A Cambuslang man has been handed a year-long ban from attending football matches in Scotland after throwing a flare at rival fans.

Celtic fan Christopher Callaghan, 19, challenged Motherwell fans to a fight on his way to a match at Fir Park in December before throwing the flare.

The explosive went off beside a police horse, causing the animal to become unsettled.

Callaghan was later identified by police officers. He admitted culpably and recklessly throwing the device at the horse which caused it to become unsettled and endangering the rider at Hamilton Sheriff Court last week. He also admitted engaging in behaviour likely to cause public disorder by shouting, swearing, gesticulating and challenging Motherwell fans to fight.

Sheriff Alasdair MacFadyen ordered Callaghan to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work as well as banning him from every football match in the country for a year.

He said: “It was extremely fortunate that the horse did not back up and place the rider in real danger. This was an incredibly dangerous thing to do and could have led to serious injury or worse.”