A drunken football fan caught with a smoke grenade at a packed out Tannadice on New Year’s Day has been banned from attending matches for two years.
Findlay Duncan, 21, was spotted holding the pyrotechnic device in the Shed end of the stadium during Dundee United’s clash with Aberdeen.
Placing him under a football banning order for two years on Friday, Sheriff Tom Hughes told Duncan he was an “embarrassment” to his team and to Scottish football.
Duncan and another fan were arrested by police at the SPFL Premiership match on January 1.
Before the match police were called to the Ambassador Bar on Clepington Road, near the stadium, after a smoke bomb had been set off.
Nicholas Simmers was then arrested after two smoke bombs were found in his coat pocket, with a third stashed in his underwear.
He will be sentenced next week.
In Duncan’s case, he was caught inside the stadium after several flares had been let off in the Shed end housing Aberdeen fans.
The court heard earlier that police entered the stand and saw Duncan holding a black canister.
Depute fiscal Douglas Wiseman told the court that when he was spotted by the police he was then seen to place the canister under his seat. He was arrested and taken to Bell Street HQ.
Duncan, of Kellands Road, Inverurie, previously admitted that on January 1 at Tannadice Park, Sandeman Street, Dundee, during the Dundee United v Aberdeen match he was in possession of a pyrotechnic (smoke grenade).
His solicitor Christopher Maitland said he was “deeply remorseful” for the stunt.
He said: “He did not arrive at the game in possession of the flare he was given it in the stand and only possessed it for about a minute.
“He did not know how to set it off and had no intention to set it off.
“He has expressed significant remorse and appears to have learned his lesson having spent two days in custody.”
Sheriff Hughes told Duncan he took a very serious view of his conduct.
He said: “You are not a first offender. This type of conduct is totally unacceptable and has been causing concern to football authorities and to people who attend football matches recently.
“People are trying to go along and watch their football team and are having to put up with individuals like you and flares.
“Flares are extremely dangerous. When they are put off they make it extremely difficult for fans.
“This must be eradicated from Scottish football.”
Sheriff Hughes said the maximum sentence he could impose was 60 days in prison but he said he thought that was “totally inadequate”.
He said: “I will be placing a community payback order on you. You must complete 120 hours of unpaid work.
“I am also making you subject to a football banning order.
“You are not wanted in Scottish football unless you can radically change your behaviour.”