Offshore worker fined for cup-throwing incident at Celtic Park

Zack Griffiths has also been banned from attending matches for three years

Griffiths was sentenced at Glasgow Sheriff Court
Author: Stephanie AllisonPublished 28th Apr 2023
Last updated 28th Apr 2023

An offshore worker who threw a cup towards ex-Rangers winger Barrie McKay at Celtic Park has been fined £790.

Zack Griffiths, 25, is also banned from attending all football matches for three years.

Griffiths, of Aberdeen, pled guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner on December 2 2021.

Glasgow Sheriff Court heard that the Hoops faced Hearts in a match that they would go on to win 1-0.

Hearts Star Mr McKay went to take a corner near the safe standing section of the stadium during the match.

Prosecutor Lauren Aitchison said: "Griffiths threw a cardboard Coca Cola cup at the Hearts football player Mr McKay.

"It did not hit Mr McKay as it did land next to him."

CCTV was used to identify Griffiths who was removed and arrested.

Ron Mackenna, defending, told the court that Griffiths is a first offender who works offshore.

The lawyer added: "He was given the opportunity to go to the game - he is not a regular football attendee.

"He got caught up in the atmosphere and he accepts he did something that was foolish."

Sheriff Mark McGuire told Griffiths that his actions could have goaded others to act how he did.

The sheriff said: "If others acted this way, then matters could have quickly escalated.

"It could have snowballed and presented a serious bout of public disorder at what was already a highly charged situation.

"You are clearly not an unintelligent man - why you decided to act in this way - an intelligent man - is beyond me.

"You require to be sentenced in a way that brings home not only the consequences of your offending but to deter others from acting in the way you have done."

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