Football club bus pelted while players are inside

As much as £4,000 worth of damage has been caused to one of Dundee United’s team buses after it was attacked following their match with Rangers on Saturday.

The Tangerines faced the Glasgow side at Ibrox, losing 1-0.

Scott Mcmann’s handball allowed Gers captain and right-back James Tavernier to score a penalty in the 71st minute.

Then, as the squad travelled back from the match, a United team bus was targeted near a junction for the M8 motorway.

A spokesperson for Central Coaches in Aberdeen, the bus company used by the Premiership side, said they believe items such as bricks and heavy

stones were thrown at the bus which had some of Tam Courts’ squad inside it.

It resulted in the outer skin of two windows – on what is thought to be the left side of the bus – being smashed.

Repairs will cost between £3,000 and £4,000.

The firm insisted no glass or items made it inside the bus and that the eight players on board were unharmed.

Due to the coronavirus

pandemic, United players travelled in two coaches.

A second Tangerines bus was also slightly damaged during its journey home, with a traffic cone thrown at the rear of the bus slightly damaging its paintwork. The eight stars on board the smashed-up bus were moved on to another vehicle and a temporary repair was carried out to ensure the damaged bus got back to its depot safely.

The Central Coaches spokesperson said the incident has been reported to the police and that they are in the process of obtaining CCTV footage from both buses.

The spokesperson added: “This is not something you see very much nowadays. There may have been a lot back in the day but it is not something that happens as much any more.

“It is very disappointing.” A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “There were no reports of any injuries. Inquiries are at an early stage.”

The Dundee United team bus as it arrived at Ibrox in Glasgow on Saturday.