Two individuals, including a Scots footballer and the son of a police officer, were highlighted as members of an Aberdeen FC ultras group involved in a violent brawl at a bar. Ben Johnston, a player at Keith FC, and Cameron Craig were part of a masked gang of 30 supporters who clashed with rival fans. Both individuals were ordered to carry out 50 hours of unpaid work as a consequence of their involvement in the altercation. The incident took place at a pub in Dundee on the day Aberdeen was scheduled to play against Dundee United. The court heard that the group, dressed in black and wearing face masks, engaged in aggressive behavior towards opposing supporters. Craig, who had a previous conviction related to football disorder, was also banned from football matches after attempting to throw a rock at a Rangers supporters bus last year.
During the court proceedings, it was mentioned that Johnston had already given up his season ticket at Pittodrie in response to the incident. Despite being supporters of Aberdeen themselves, their actions led to legal repercussions. The sheriff presiding over the case emphasized the seriousness of their actions, highlighting that such behaviour belonged to a bygone era and not in contemporary society. Both individuals admitted to acting disorderly and forming part of a violent crowd who confronted rival supporters.
Their lawyers acknowledged the regrettable involvement of the defendants in the incident, stressing that they were young men who found themselves caught up in a situation they shouldn’t have been part of. The court also accepted not guilty pleas from two other individuals who faced similar charges. The sheriff concluded by warning the defendants that such behaviour should not repeat itself in the future.
In conclusion, this incident serves as a reminder of the consequences of engaging in violent and disorderly behaviour, especially in the context of football-related altercations. It underscores the importance of promoting sportsmanship and responsible fan behaviour within football communities to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.