Pitch invader who gestured at Rangers keeper is banned
Hibs fan avoids custodial sentence despite climbing barrier at final
A 19-YEAR-OLD student and former private school squash coach has narrowly avoided detention after admitting his part in a pitch invasion at the end of this year’s Scottish Cup Final.
Greg Binnie pled guilty to running at and making offensive gestures towards Rangers’ goalkeeper Wes Foderingham after climbing over fencing at Hampden Park on May 21.
Sports coaching student Binnie, who has lost his part-time job at George Watson’s College in Edinburgh due to his involvement, was charged under the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act and was found to have engaged in behaviour which was likely to incite trouble.
Appearing at Glasgow Sheriff Court yesterday, Sheriff Ian Miller told the teenager the maximum sentence was 12 months in prison and that his actions “merited” a custodial sentence.
However, he added: “I see no public utility in sending you to prison. Instead, I see a much greater public benefit in giving you the chance to use your considerable gift and talent in a way, while giving others a chance to take advantage of this gift and talent.”
He handed Binnie a community payback order with the condition he carry out 240 hours of unpaid work in six months and a restriction of liberty order meaning for two months he must stay in his home between 8pm and 6am.
He was also banned from attending any football match in the UK for the next two years.
Hibs have already issued Binnie with an indefinite ban from watching the team playing or buying any tickets for home or away games.
The court heard Binnie climbed over fencing and went on to the pitch at the end of the match between Rangers and Hibs, which Hibs won 3-2 after a last-minute goal.
Binnie, from Ratho, near Edinburgh, ran at Foderingham and gestured in an offensive manner. After the match, police viewing CCTV identified Binnie and he was taken from his house on May 24 before appearing in court the following afternoon.
Procurator fiscal depute Stephen Ferguson said: “Mr Binnie ran towards the Rangers goalkeeper Wesley Foderingham.
“Mr Foderingham was standing at the goalposts near to the east end of the stadium where the majority of Hibs fans were housed.
“As Mr Foderingham was approached by the accused, offensive gestures were used, using two hands.”
The court heard that Binnie had no previous convictions. Testimonies on his behalf from college lecturers and others were given to the court for consideration.
Binnie, a former SFA intern, was working as a squash coach at George Watson’s college in Edinburgh and has lost his job.
Defence counsel Lorenzo Alonzi described Binnie’s actions as “boyhood stupidity”.
He said it was “stupidity arising out of the sheer excitement of the situation”.
The lawyer said: “Mr Binnie has already been punished significantly as a result of the direct consequence following his actions that day” and that he was “genuinely remorseful”.