Prosecutors have pledged to continue their clampdown on football fans whose behaviour puts others on the terraces at risk.
The vow has been made by Vicki Bell, football liaison prosecutor for the north of Scotland, in the wake of a teenage fan’s conviction for letting off a firework at an Angus ground during a game involving Scottish champions Celtic.
Jordan Dunbar, 17, of East Kilbride, was fined £300 at Arbroath Sheriff Court last week after being convicted of the offence at the town’s Gayfield Park on December 12 last year.
A sheriff also made the teenager the subject of a banning order which will prohibit Dunbar from going to any regulated football match in the UK for 18 months.
A number of flares had been set off during the Scottish Cup clash, and Dunbar was arrested after stewards saw him dropping the firework in the crowd.
Ms Bell said: “Fireworks and flares can be very dangerous and setting off any pyrotechnics in crowded areas such as football matches could have devastating consequences.
“Such irresponsible behaviour will not be tolerated and police and prosecutors are determined to identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice.”
The prosecution is the latest in a string of banning orders imposed at Angus courts this season over offences committed during the visits of Rangers and Celtic to the county.
Several supporters were dealt with at Forfar in the wake of the Brechin versus Rangers Ramsdens Cup clash last July, after a number of arrests for sectarian singing among the 4,100-strong crowd.
Football liaison prosecutors have been put in place across Scotland and work with the police and other key partners in areas including awareness raising and championing the use of football banning orders with procurators fiscal.
FBOs can be imposed by courts upon sentence to offences related to football matches, involving violence or disorder.
Offenders must report to a police station within five days of the order being made.