Football fan admits 'racial abuse' of Hibs player as six handed banning orders

A man has pleaded guilty to racially abusing a Hibs player during the Edinburgh derby as five others were handed football banning orders.

Police say a 46-year-old man was banned at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on January 21, 2025, after he pleaded guilty to a racial abuse offence which occurred at the Hearts v Hibernian game on Boxing Day.

He also received a fine.

Two men, aged 19 and 22, were also issued with football banning orders at Dunfermline Sheriff Court on January 15, 2025, after pleading guilty to assaulting a teenager.

This related to an attack at the Dunfermline v Raith Rovers fixture on January 2, 2024.

Three other men, aged 26, 27 and 62, have also been given football banning orders this month after they pleaded guilty to offences including breach of the peace and assault at separate matches last year.

ACC Gary Ritchie said: “We should all be able to go to a football match and enjoy the game without fear of violence or disorder.

“We will use all available tools at our disposal to eradicate this unacceptable behaviour. Football banning orders can be instrumental in helping us keep fans, players and our communities safe.

“We will continue to work with the clubs and courts to tackle criminality.”

Calum Beattie, the SPFL’s chief operating officer, said: “We warmly applaud the robust approach from the police and courts in dealing with this disgraceful behaviour, as well as the swift action taken by our clubs to identify the individuals involved.

“The fact that a football banning order was imposed in these cases is entirely appropriate and we welcome the use of this restriction as an effective deterrent to other forms of unacceptable behaviour in stadia.”