Fans in the dock after football fracas

A flare was thrown on the pitch at the Forfar v Linlithgow Rose cup replay
Picture: Ian Rutherford — A flare was thrown on the pitch at the Forfar v Linlithgow Rose cup replay Picture: Ian Rutherford

Jordan Kennedy pled guilty to the offence which occurred during the fourth-round match between Forfar Athletic and junior side Linlithgow Rose on January 19.

The match was later abandoned when the floodlights failed at the Angus club’s Station Park.

Jordan Kennedy appeared at Forfar Sheriff Court today to admit throwing the flare, while Joshua Bell, also of Linlithgow, pled guilty to running on to the pitch.

Their solicitor said the pair were “both clearly drunk, both clearly stupid” and apologised for their actions.

Fiscal depute Joanne Smith told the court there was no prearranged police presence at the game, which quickly changed due to “unruly behaviour in a small section of Linlithgow supporters”.

She said: “Police attended at 7.50pm and a number of smoke flares were active in the Linlithgow stand.”

They were confronted by Kennedy, who was holding a smoke bomb.

She added: “Mr Kennedy was taunting police officers while holding the item.

“Prior to his being restrained he launched the lit pyrotechnic to the south stand which still contained supporters.

“Mr Bell ran from the stand, jumped the barrier and ran on to the playing field towards Mr Kennedy.”

Bell (22), of Deanburn Road, pleaded guilty to running on to the pitch and committing a breach of the peace.

Kennedy (19), of Lovells Glen, admitted culpably and recklessly throwing a pyrotechnic smoke flare into a stand filled with spectators, to their danger.

Not guilty pleas to Kennedy possessing a smoke flare and both being drunk in the stadium were accepted by the Crown.

Defence agent John Hall said Bell is due to start a degree in criminology – but that the offence “was not the kind of coursework” he had imagined.

Sheriff Pino Di Emidio imposed a six-month community payback order on Bell, with 60 hours of unpaid work, but declined a Crown invitation to impose a football banning order.

Sentence was deferred on Kennedy until April 7 for the preparation of social work background reports and the consideration of a banning order.