A YOUNG Rangers fan was banned from football games for a year after a mass fight at Hampden Park.
Before the League Cup semi-final on February 26 last year, supporters of the Light Blues and Celtic clashed in a major incident.
Craig Stirling, 22, of Troon, was caught on CCTV around 8.40am, congregating with other Rangers supporters.
He was then seen running towards a large group of Celtic fans.
He switched to a fighting stance as he approached part of the group and he was observed to throw a right punch to one man’s head.
Stirling was then kicked by another man and was separated by police. He held his leg as if he was hurt.
He disappeared briefly from the CCTV footage and around a minute later was seen again as part of a Rangers supporters group.
He was seen running towards Celtic fans again and there was a clash.
Stirling was seen at the front of the group, exchanging punches with Celtic fans.
The groups separated and Stirling was seen running towards the other crowd again.
He then tried to kick a man who was part of the other group.
He was lost in the footage again and then two minutes later he was seen walking past the Hampden sign shaking hands with a man.
He later attended Cathcart police station voluntarily, where he was arrested, cautioned and charged.
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Stirling appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court this week after he pleaded guilty to behaving in an aggressive manner as part of a large disorderly group and engaging in several stand-up fights.
The Crown was seeking a football banning order.
At the hearing, his lawyer explained Stirling was there at an agreed time to put up banners before the match began.
He said: "He had entered without expecting any trouble.
“He has no prior convictions or outstanding matters."
Sheriff Owen Mullan fined him £720 and a 12-month football banning order was granted.
This means Stirling is barred from attending games played by UK teams domestically and abroad, including the national team's fixtures.
He also cannot set foot in pubs when the matches are shown.
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