18-month football ban for knuckleduster Hibs fan

A HIBS fan who was caught with a knuckleduster at an SPL match was today banned from attending football for 18 months.

Tom McFarlane was found with the weapon in the stands at Dundee FC’s Dens Park stadium after trouble flared between home and visiting fans.

Words were exchanged between Hibs fans in the away end and home fans sitting in the Derry enclosure shortly after half time when police moved in to quell trouble.

McFarlane was then spotted trying to flee the ground - but was stopped and searched by cops.

They found the knuckleduster concealed in his jacket.

McFarlane, 24, of Lanark Road West, Currie, Edinburgh, pleaded guilty on summary complaint to possessing an offensive weapon at Dens Park, Dundee, on November 17 last year.

Sheriff Derek O’Carroll imposed a 18 month football banning order - and placed him on a community payback order with 130 hours of community service.

He said: “There’s only one purpose of a knuckleduster and that’s to inflict harm on others and that’s a very serious matter.

“In my view given the circumstances in which it was found you having been ejected from the ground because of disorder I’m going to impose a football banning order.

“That bans you from attending all football games in the UK for 18 months.”

Bottom of the table Dundee won the SPL clash 3-1 in a surprise result - with Hibernian having started the day top of the league.

Goals from Kyle Benedictus, Steven Milne and a Kevin McBride penalty put the hosts into a commanding lead, with Leigh Griffiths netting a consolation goal in injury time.