EIGHT men have denied being involved in a mass disturbance at a Celtic and Motherwell football match.
Kieran Carvill, 23, Mac Martin, 23, Sam Colquhoun, 21, Ryan Creaney, 21, Jude Carroll, 20, Padraig Doyle, 20, Ben Catchpole, 19, and Marcus Henry, 18, are accused of causing disorder at Fir Park and Motherwell train station.
The alleged incident took place at Motherwell vs Celtic game in September 2023[/caption]
A 97th minute goal sparked wild scenes among the travelling support.[/caption]
The Scottish Premiership game finished in a late 2-1 win for the Hoops at the Lanarkshire stadium in September 2023.
Celtic winger Luis Palma netted in the 87th minute of the game before Blair Spittal equalised for the Steelmen in the 95th minute.
But Hoops midfielder Matt O’Riley cut the home celebrations short and fired in a 97th minute winner which sparked wild scenes among the travelling support.
Prosecutors have accused the men of being involved in a number of incidents while acting with unknown others and with their faces masked.
They are alleged to have thrown pyrotechnics towards police horses which caused one animal to damage a parked vehicle.
They are also said to have spat at police officers and horses, thrown a bottle at the head of a mounted police officer and to have repeatedly engaged in a physical altercation with the police.
Prosecutors further claim the group forced their way into Fir Park without showing a ticket and repeatedly kicked and tried to open fire doors to allow other ticketless supporters inside.
This incident is said to have resulted in a police officer being injured.
The men are also accused of causing mass overcrowding inside the stadium, entering the field of play and aggressively gesturing and throwing objects including a pole at opposition supporters.
They also face claims that they dodged train fares by jumping over barriers, pushed through turnstiles, acted in an aggressive manner and repeatedly attempted to breach a police cordon.
Carvill, of Pollok, Martin, of Bishopbriggs, Colquhoun, of Airdrie, Creaney, of Blantyre, Carroll, of Hamilton, Doyle, of Glasgow, Catchpole, of Coatbridge, and Henry, of Hamilton, all pled not guilty to a single charge of breach of the peace during a hearing at Hamilton Sheriff Court.
Depute fiscal Lewis Devoy told the court that a trial could last ‘in excess’ of five days.
The case was continued until another preliminary hearing next month by Sheriff John Hamilton KC.
Two 15-year-olds who were arrested over the incident were referred to the Children‘s Reporter.
