Four in court over Rab Douglas on-pitch ‘attack’

FOUR football fans are to stand trial accused of running on the pitch and attacking ex-Celtic and Scotland goalkeeper Rab Douglas at the final whistle of an SPFL match.

Forfar goalkeeper Rab Dougblas. Picture: Contributed

Ian Bear, Douglas Allsop, Kenneth Murray and Ryan Lawrence are all accused of offences committed at a match between their team, Airdrie, and Douglas’s current club, Forfar, in April.

The four men stand accused of repeatedly shouting, swearing and “directed foul and abusive language” at Douglas before running onto the pitch at Station Park, Forfar.

Lawrence is also alleged to have threatened violence, and that his offence was “aggravated by religious prejudice”.

Bear is accused of spitting on Douglas and running towards him on the park and repeatedly punching him on the head.

Murray is also accused of repeatedly punching the former Scotland international on the head.

Lawrence faces three assault charges - firstly allegedly spitting on Douglas’s head before running towards him and repeatedly punching him on the head.

He is also accused of assaulting Thomas McKelvie - understood to be a steward at the ground - and struggling with him and punching him on the chest.

Bear, 36, of George Street, Airdrie, Allsop, 40, of Albert Place, Airdrie, Murray, 30, of Canal Place, Aberdeen and Lawrence, 19, of West Drive, Airdrie, all deny the charges against them.

Sheriff Pino di Emidio set a trial date in November and ordered the four to attend a pre-trial hearing earlier that month.

The SPFL League One match finished in a 2-0 win for Forfar - denting Airdrie’s hopes of securing a place in the promotion play-offs.

They eventually missed out by one point to Brechin City.