Two football fans in court over Old Firm effigies

Two more football fans have appeared in court charged with displaying an allegedly offensive banner and blow up figures at the recent Old Firm match.

Published 18th Oct 2016

Two more football fans have appeared in court charged with displaying an allegedly offensive banner and blow up figures at the recent Old Firm match. Mark MacDonald, 22, was at Glasgow Sheriff Court on Monday after being arrested the day before. Lewis McLachlan, 19, made his appearance from custody at the same court. Both men were represented by Paul Kavanagh and deny the single charge they face under the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications Act. A trial was set for March next year and MacDonald, from Thornliebank, was ordained to appear while McLachlan, from Cumbernauld, was granted bail on the standard conditions. Prosecutors claim the men committed the offence at the Parkhead clash on September 10, where Celtic won 5-1. It’s alleged they did “engage in behaviour” which may be likely to “incite public disorder”. This is said to involve the display of a banner that contained a "threatening and offensive remark". The charge also states two "inflatable figures" were shown which were "fashioned in a threatening and offensive manner".