Hamilton man who threw flare at Scottish Cup fixture banned from all matches

A Hamilton man who threw a flare during a Scottish Cup game has been banned from all matches.

Published 7th Sep 2016

A Hamilton man who threw a flare during a Scottish Cup game has been banned from all matches.

At Stranraer Sheriff Court, Carlos Rankin was sentenced for throwing a flare during a match between Stranraer and Celtic at Stair Park on January 10 this year. The court heard that Police had seen him throwing the flare in the crowded West Stand of the ground during the fourth round Scottish Cup tie at Stranraer. Further enquiries by Police led to his identification and arrest some days later. Speaking following today’s hearing Stephen Ferguson, Football Liaison Prosecutor for the West of Scotland, said: "Setting off flares or any pyrotechnics at a football match is stupid and dangerous and can have devastating consequences. “Working with police we are determined to identify perpetrators and bring them to justice so we can rid football of reckless, irresponsible and dangerous behaviour of this nature.” An eight month Football Banning Order was imposed on Rankin who was also ordered to carryout 100 hours of unpaid work. The Banning Order means that he will be banned from all regulated football matches throughout the whole of the United Kingdom for the eight month period.