Fife man fined for racist tweet about Pars star El Bakhtaoui

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A football fan has been fined for posting a racist tweet about a Dunfermline Athletic player and another message about the club’s tragic former captain Norrie McCathie.

Lewis Thow, 19, wrote on social media that the Pars French Moroccan striker Faissal El Bakhtaoui “peels bananas with his feet”.

Thow also sent a sick comment about McCathie, who died in a tragic accident at his home 20 years ago and is still a club legend with supporters.

The tweets came after a drinking binge on the day of a derby between Cowdenbeath and Dunfermline.

They caused “outrage” after being posted on a Pars fans forum and led to a court appearance for Thow, of Droverhall Place, Crossgates.

He admitted that on March 19 he sent by means of an electronic communications network on a social media platform two tweets that were grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character in that he made offensive and racist comments.

Depute fiscal Louise Graham told Dunfermline Sheriff Court El Bakhtaoui was a Moroccan currently playing for Dunfermline.

She said Norrie McCathie “became a legend for the club” but his death was sometimes used by “fans of rival clubs to cause tension”.

On the day of the match, Thow had been consuming a large amount of alcohol before sending messages on social media, said Ms Graham.

The first referred to McCathie, saying: “Norrie’s deid”.

He then posted a comment that: “El Bakhtaoui peels bananas with his feet”.

“Screenshots were taken of the messages and showed on a Dunfermline Athletic club forum.

“This caused outrage and Police Scotland were contacted,” the depute fiscal continued.

When traced over his actions, Thow toldofficersthecommentwasnotmeant to be racial.

“He said they were meant to be a laugh and that he had been drinking all day. He described it as a stupid mistake,”