The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Coin-throwing fan escapes ban
Raith player hit on head by missile hurled by Euan Low
A drunken football fan who hit a player with a coin during a Championship game has escaped a football banning order.
Dundee United fan Euan Low, right, pled guilty to culpable and reckless conduct at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court yesterday after the incident at Stark’s Park on March 18 2017.
The 25-year-old claimed he had “no recollection” of throwing the coin on to the field during the final stages of the match between United and Raith Rovers.
The thrown object struck Rovers midfielder Ross Matthews on the head. The player was thankfully left uninjured despite suffering from some “tenderness”.
Low was handed a £375 fine by Sheriff Jamie Gilchrist. Raith Rovers last night welcomed the guilty plea.
A drunk football hooligan who threw a coin that hit a Raith Rovers player on the head has admitted culpable and reckless conduct.
Euan Low appeared at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court yesterday where he claimed he had “no recollection” of the incident which took place on March 18 2017.
The 25-year-old had been sitting in the Dundee United supporters’ end at Stark’s Park when he lobbed the coin on to the field towards the end of the Championship clash.
It struck Rovers man Ross Matthews on the left temple but thankfully left him uninjured apart from some “tenderness” in the area.
Low, who said he worked for a charity, managed to escape a ban from attending all football games but was handed a £375 fine.
A manhunt was launched to track down the thug following the incident last year and CCTV was released by Police Scotland.
Raith Rovers also condemned the incident and handed over “crystal-clear” images of the culprit to Dundee United and investigating officers.
Depute fiscal Clare Kennedy told the court: “The complainer in this case is a professional football player who at the time was playing for Raith Rovers football club.
“There was a match taking place at the locus on the date libelled.
“The accused had been drinking with friends prior to attending the match.
“Towards the end of the match, there was some pushing and shoving between players on the pitch close to where the accused and his friends were sitting.
“The accused then threw a coin towards the field which then struck the complainer on the left temple which resulted in tenderness to the area that was struck. “No physical assistance was required.” Low, who represented himself in court, changed his plea to guilty at the hearing in front of Sheriff Gilchrist.
He said: “I don’t have any recollection of the incident.”
Sentencing him, Sheriff Jamie Gilchrist said: “I could ban you from attending all football matches but I’m not going to do that.
“I’m going to fine you £375 discounted from £500 for pleading guilty.”
He asked the defendant if he was a Raith Rovers fan to which he replied: “I’m a Dundee United supporter.”
Low was tracked down after Police Scotland issued CCTV of the incident which showed Low in the Dundee United fans’ seating area.
Raith Rovers FC chairman Alan Young said: “The Raith Rovers FC code of conduct makes it clear that the throwing of any object is unacceptable at matches. Therefore, we are pleased that the person responsible for this incident has been dealt with by the courts and that lessons have been learned by them in this regard.”