Hibs fan facing ban after derby assault

A Hibs fan who lashed out and struck the Hearts goalkeeper on the face during a rowdy Hallowe’en Edinburgh derby is facing a ban from all S cottish football grounds.

Edward Harrold, 21, struck Zdenek Zlamal on the nose a s t h e ke e p e r a t te mpt e d t o retrieve the ball from behind h i s g o a l d u r i n g a ma t c h a t Tynecastle on 31 October last year.

Z l a m a l f e l l t o t h e g r o u n d after being struck before composing himself and sarcastic a l l y c l a p p i n g t h e g o a d i n g Hibs fans. The Czech keeper told a trial at Edinburgh Sheriff Cour t last week he fell to the ground “in shock” rather than from the blow to his head. Harrold, from Musselburgh, E a s t L o t h i a n , w a s f o u n d guilty of assault by Sheriff Alison Stirling and sentence was deferred to nex t month for reports. Following the verdict the Crown said it was moving for a football banning order against Harrold and the length of the ban will be revealed at the sentencing hearing.