All-stadium ban for football fan

Published on Tuesday 26 June 2007 01:48

A FOOTBALL fan from Edinburgh has become one of the first people in Scotland to be banned from all British grounds.

Dean Gollan has been barred for three months from entering any UK stadium where a regulated match is taking place, Aberdeen Sheriff Court ruled.

Gollan, 33, was given the football banning order for a breach of the peace during a match between Aberdeen and Hearts at the Pittodrie ground on March 10.

He shouted and swore at fans and tried to climb over a fence segregating rival supporters.

Gollan, of Gilmerton Dykes Grove, Edinburgh,was also fined 200 for the offence.

The order is only the second imposed in Scotland by a criminal court since the introduction of new legislation.

Football banning orders have been in existence in England since 2000, but they only came into Scottish law under the Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act in September 2006.

The banning orders can be imposed in a criminal court or through a civil application by the police. A Scottish Executive spokesman said there had been only one previous criminal football banning order in Scotland.

This was given to a protester who invaded the pitch at Ibrox stadium during Rangers' UEFA Cup tie against the Israeli side Maccabi Haifa and shouted sectarian abuse at the Glasgow team's fans.

Two separate civil orders have also been handed out.

Constable Simon Gardiner, Grampian Police' football banning order co-ordinator, said:

"Fans should be aware that their behaviour at matches could have serious consequences."