Fan’s tears as he pleads guilty to attack on French footballer
Celtic charged again over fan misconduct
A CELTIC fan wept in the dock as he admitted invading the pitch and assaulting a player during a Champions League match.
John Hatton, 21, from Belfast, jumped a metal railing and ran on to the pitch at Celtic Park on Tuesday night, assaulting Paris Saint Germain forward Kylian Mbappe by attempting to kick him.
It happened in the 40th minute after PSG’s Edinson Cavani scored PSG’s third goal. The French club won the tie 5-0.
At Glasgow Sheriff Court, Tesco worker Hatton also pleaded guilty to behaviour likely to incite public disorder by approaching Mbappe. Hatton, who was wearing a Celtic tracksuit, was banned from every football ground in the UK by Sheriff Sukwinder Gill.
Defence lawyer Dan Cameron said: ‘The match wasn’t disrupted for any great length of time. He had consumed a lot of alcohol and can only remember parts of the day.’
Hatton was granted bail with sentence deferred until October 11. A second Celtic fan, Anthony Lavelle, 61, was fined £400 after he admitted punching Hatton.
Depute fiscal Louise McNeil said: ‘After seeing John Hatton invading the pitch, he became upset and angry.’
CELTIC will face a 12th UEFA charge in six years after a supporter ran on to the pitch and aimed a kick at striker Kylian Mbappe in Tuesday’s Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain.
The governing body yesterday announced their control, ethics and disciplinary body will deal with the matter on October 19.
John Hatton, 21, from Belfast, cried in the dock as he admitted the offence — which happened in the closing stages of the first half — during an appearance at Glasgow Sheriff Court yesterday.
The Parkhead club have repeatedly fallen foul of UEFA since 2012, with a succession of fines imposed for offences ranging from pyrotechnics to illicit banners.
In July, Celtic were fined £26,000 after an ‘illicit banner’ was displayed during their qualifying win over Linfield.
Following that charge, the club
announced a two-game closure of the area of the stadium occupied by the Green Brigade fans’ group.
Former striker Charlie Nicholas fears the patience of Europe’s governing body may now be wearing thin with the prospect of stadium closure for the latest infraction now a possibility.
He told Sky Sports: ‘I am fearful that this could lead to a stadium ban for Celtic — and that would be a massive blow with Bayern Munich coming up next (at Parkhead).
‘Celtic have been warned by UEFA and punished in recent months and they could not afford this to happen. I would worry for them now.’
Parkhead boss Brendan Rodgers said the club will also take action. ‘The crowd reaction said it all. It is disappointing at any ground that a fan gets on to the pitch,’ he said.
‘I am sure the club will deal with that. It shouldn’t be anything that we should see on a football field. The crowd, in their reaction, told you everything you need to know.’
The incident happened shortly after the visitors scored their third goal in a 5-0 win.
PSG also face a charge after seats were damaged in the away section.
Police Scotland reported seven arrests at the match, including the alleged pitch incursion and assault.
Hatton’s charges were described as ‘very serious’ during his court appearance.
Sentence was deferred until October 11 and he was released on bail. Hatton has been banned from entering any football ground in Scotland, England and Wales until then.
A second Celtic fan, Anthony Lavelle, admitted punching Hatton on the head as he was being led from the stadium by police.
Depute fiscal Louise McNeil said: ‘Mr Lavelle was a spectator and after seeing John Hatton invading the pitch he became upset and angry.
‘While the police were escorting Mr Hatton from the stadium he punched him on the head. Mr Lavelle was then arrested.’
Sheriff Sukwinder Gill fined Lavelle £400 and gave him two months to pay it. She refused a Crown motion to impose a football banning order.