Rangers player Grant Adam guilty over sectarian chant

RANGERS goalkeeper Grant Adam has been convicted of chanting a sectarian slogan outside a nightclub.

The 21-year-old sang “hey, hey, f*** the Pope and the IRA” in the early hours of 6 November in Glasgow city centre.

Adam, who is currently on loan to Airdrie United, was overheard and arrested by two police officers who were dealing with another matter outside the Corinthian nightclub in Ingram Street.

After hearing evidence from PC David Beck and PC Magdalena Ross, Sheriff John Baird found Adam, from Bearsden, guilty of chanting the sectarian phrase, and fined him £500.

The sheriff said it was not challenged that a sectarian comment had been made and in the circumstances it was a breach of the peace.

He said: “I am satisfied beyond reasonable doubt on the evidence of these two police officers it was you who made the comment.”

PC Beck told Glasgow Sheriff Court he and his colleague had been outside the club helping the stewards on the door at about 1:30am.

He said while they were there, they were directed towards two men who had been refused entry to the club. “At that time, the stewards had asked me to speak with a couple of people who had tried to get in but were refused entry. The stewards believed them to be too drunk to enter and at that time I had approached these two males to speak to them,” he said.

Linda McCaffer, prosecuting asked: “Did something come to your attention?”

PC Beck answered: “Yes, another male who was standing to my left-hand side.”

When asked why his attention had been drawn he said: “Because he started chanting, singing.”

He was asked what was said and told the court: “He sang ‘Hey, hey, f*** the Pope and the IRA’.”

Ms McCaffer asked: “Can you give an indication of how loud this was sung?”

He said: “Loud enough for myself and my colleague and people standing surrounding me to hear.”

Adam has been with Rangers since leaving school and is third-choice keeper behind Allan McGregor and Neil Alexander.