Three thugs from Dundee have been handed football bans over a mass disturbance ahead of United v Aberdeen match.
Lemmy Milne, Alexander Middleton and Grant Fender were arrested following an incident at the Snug Bar on Church Street before a top-flight clash between Dundee United and Aberdeen on December 13 last year.
Police dogs had to be brought in as police struggled to keep the groups of hooligans apart.
Innocent civilians became trapped amid the chaos as officers tried to contain the violence.
Depute fiscal Alex Piper told Dundee Sheriff Court the incident started when a large group of Aberdeen fans turned up at the bar, which was already packed with United supporters.
She said: “There was a confrontation that spilled out into the street.
“There were people lunging at each other and there were threats of violence and aggressive behaviour on both sides.
“Police dogs had to be brought in to keep the peace.”
Milne, 17, Middleton, 41, and Fender, 29, all of Dundee, pleaded guilty to charges under the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications Act of “engaging in behaviour that is likely or would be likely to incite public disorder by forming part of a disorderly crowd and repeatedly attempting to engage in violence with rival fans”.
Sheriff George Way ordered Milne to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work on a community payback order, gave Middleton 120 hours and Fender 140 hours.
All three were given football banning orders preventing them from attending matches in the UK for 12 months.