Thug’s TV red card
Football hooligan who hurled a coin at match official is banned from watching football... even in the pub
A RANGERS fan who threw a coin at a linesman during a football match has been banned from going to games or even watching them on TV in pubs for two years.
Stuart McGaughay, 30, looked shamefaced as he pleaded guilty to striking assistant referee Calum Spence on the head.
The attack was caught live on television by cameras filming Livingston’s 1-0 win over the Old Firm club live at the Tony Macaroni Arena in West Lothian.
After pleading guilty at Livingston Sheriff Court yesterday, it emerged that McGaughay had handed himself in to police shortly after the incident and admitted he was the culprit.
When charged with injuring the linesman, he replied: ‘I didn’t mean it. There was no intention, but I understand.’
Depute fiscal Kat Craig said the linesman had his back to the crowd of Rangers fans during the match on Sunday, September 13, when he felt something strike the back of his head.
He suffered a five millimetre cut but did not require medical treatment. The incident was caught live by cameras and, after widespread publicity, McGaughay, of Airdrie, Lanarkshire, handed himself in.
TV viewers saw the linesman appear to stumble before clutching the back of his head in pain. Referee Craig Thomson halted play to allow for treatment on the sidelines.
Sheriff Peter Hammond fined McGaughay £900 and made him the subject to a football banning order for two years, not only barring him from any live football match in the UK and Europe, but also preventing him from watching games in pubs and other commercial premises.
He told McGaughay: ‘This was a serious incident of disorder which not only was an assault on the official concerned, but also incidents of this kind are a particular concern because of the effect they have on others and the propensity to cause disorder. It’s a matter the court takes seriously.’
He said the banning order meant McGaughay could not enter any
‘Serious incident of disorder’
football ground anywhere in the UK or attend any FIFA or UEFA ties in this country or Europe.
The sheriff added: ‘I am satisfied it is appropriate to impose a football banning order to prevent violence or disorder at domestic football matches.
‘This ban also extends to nondomestic premises in which such matches are being televised and journeys going to and from matches, also any matches during the period which are part of FIFA or UEFA competitions, whether or not a British team is competing.’
McGaughy must also surrender his passport to police if told to do so when any UK national sides are playing abroad.
Donna Maitland, defending, said the experience of being charged and prosecuted had been ‘an eye-opener’ for McGaughay. She told the court: ‘He was shocked at his behaviour and he’s very sorry about what happened.
‘He tried to write a letter of apology but was told he couldn’t because of his bail conditions.’
She said McGaughay, who is due to get married next year, had lost his job as a delivery driver because of the court case, but had since found a temporary post and was planning to start work as a labourer offshore.
McGaughay, who has persistently avoided cameras, was smuggled out of court by his family.