A Kirkcaldy man has been banned from attending football matches for two years after running on to the pitch during the first ever live TV match at Stark’s Park.
Nicholas Leitch, 27, received the football banning order at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court on Tuesday after entering the field during the Raith Rovers against Celtic Scottish Cup match at the Kirkcaldy ground in February 2013.
During the fifth round match, which was shown live on BBC Scotland and won by Celtic 3-0, Leitch ran on to the pitch and ran towards a player in front of more than 7,000 fans.
It was the first live televised match involving the home club from the ground they have called home since 1891.
Sheriff Alastair Thornton said that, although he did not think Leitch meant any malice, his behaviour was “disruptive and such conduct is not to be tolerated”.
He banned Leitch from entering any football ground in the UK for the next two years, or any match outside the UK involving clubs from the UK. He also sentenced him to a four-month restriction of liberty order.
Leitch admitted that, on February 3 2013 at Stark’s Park he engaged in behaviour likely to incite public disorder, by entering the field of play and running towards a football player playing in the match.