Guilty – shamed Celtic star who took fan chant too far
CELTIC and Scotland striker Leigh Griffiths has admitted singing an offensive song about an opposition player.
The footballer made a brief appearance at Edinburgh Sheriff Court to answer a charge of singing a lyric branding former Hearts player Rudi Skacel ‘a refugee’ before an Edinburgh derby match last March.
Fiscal Depute Faith Miller said that police officers were on duty i n Roseburn Terrace i n the capital before the Scottish Premier League game between Hearts and Hibs.
A large number of Hibs fans had gathered waiting for the opening of the Roseburn Bar.
Miss Miller said the fans began singing a song about Skacel to the tune of The Beatles’ Yellow Submarine.
The song contained the lyrics that Czech Skacel was ‘a f*****g refugee’.
The fiscal told Sheriff James Scott it was ‘a well-known Hibs song’ and Griffiths, 25, was seen joining in. When t he Roseburn Bar opened, the Hibs fans inside began singing the song again.
The fiscal said that the following Sunday, April 6, a newspaper printed a picture of Griffiths, a Hibs fan, standing on a chair in the pub, singing along with the other supporters. Defence solici- tor Advocate Liam O’Donnell said Griffiths apologised unreservedly for his actions.
The lawyer added that, in the 18 months since the incident, his client had not been in trouble. He added that Griffiths had been fined four weeks wages for being involved.
Sheriff Scott admonished Griffiths after his guilty plea.
In a statement issued by Celtic, the footballer said: ‘I made a mistake, I wrongly became involved in this incident and did not fully consider my actions. I apologise unreservedly for this.
‘I am pleased that the judge f elt no f urther action was required, however this is a matter which I have absolutely learned from.’