Scotland has witnessed a series of shocking football-related violent incidents this year, ranging from a father-and-son attack that left a fan scarred for life to mass brawls involving rival supporters. These events have prompted police action, with some fans receiving banning orders and others facing charges.
Father and Son Attack St Johnstone Fan
Earlier this week, the Daily Record reported on a violent father and son who admitted scarring a St Johnstone fan for life after a match against Dundee. Sean Collins, 57, and his son Liam, 31, attacked the fan at the Whites Bar on Provost Road, leaving him with a broken jaw, a fractured eye socket, and a fractured and displaced kneecap.
The victim, Jamie Black, had been enjoying drinks with his brother David after the Perth Saints had come from behind to win 2-1 at Dens Park. The pair pled guilty to causing severe injury, permanent disfigurement, and permanent impairment. Jamie required an operation to have a knee brace put in place before further surgery to insert a facial implant, resulting in ten months off work.
Rangers Pub Street Brawl
A man was rushed to hospital following a street brawl outside a Rangers pub in the east end of Glasgow. Emergency services were called to an incident involving a number of people on Duke Street near the Bristol Bar around 3.20pm on Sunday, September 13. Punters had gathered in the street, and a brawl allegedly broke out between a number of them after Rangers won 3-0 over Celtic earlier in the day.
Pictures taken at the scene showed a man lying on the road surrounded by multiple people. Another picture showed officers guarding the road outside the Bristol Bar. One injured man was taken to hospital for treatment. Police cordoned off Duke Street near Duke Street Railway Station and the junction with Cumbernauld Road shortly after Rangers' 3-0 win against Celtic in the Premier Sports Cup. Enquiries into the incident are ongoing.
Airdrie Bar Ambush and Banning Orders
Two thugs who helped ambush rival football fans in a pub were banned from attending games for two years in June 2025. Airdrie Sheriff Court heard how Airdrieonians supporter Cameron Patey "got a buzz" out of causing trouble. Shocking video footage showed bottles being thrown into a bar in the Lanarkshire town where St Johnstone fans had gathered before a Scottish Cup match.
A group of home fans confronted the Perth side's supporters, and a fight spilled on to the street. After the brawl, bar manager Scott Rae, 47, told the Record he was lucky to escape injury after being hit by a bottle as he tried to eject the troublemakers. Patey, 22, alongside Ryan Lawrence, 29, and Nathan Dunsmore, 26, admitted causing a breach of the peace by fighting, shouting, and swearing on January 20, 2024. Patey had a previous conviction, and Lawrence also had football-related previous convictions. Both men were given a football banning order for two years.
Aberdeen and Rangers Fans Clash
Rival supporters clashed ahead of Aberdeen's Premiership match with Rangers at Pittodrie in January. Police battled to keep both sets of supporters apart during the disturbance on Summerfield Terrace. Footage of the incident seen by the Record shows around 50 Rangers fans, dressed in black with some wearing blue balaclavas, walking towards a police line blocking them from Aberdeen fans. Both sets of fans rushed to the left of the officers and clashed, with punches thrown from either side and missiles thrown before police quickly regained control.
No one was arrested at the time, but police did confirm that there were no injuries reported. A spokesperson for the force said: "Ahead of the Aberdeen v Rangers game on Sunday, January 11, there was a disturbance involving football fans. No-one was injured. Extensive enquiries were carried out by officers. Should any new information be received, it will be investigated."
Masked Thugs in Mass Brawl
Masked football thugs were involved in a mass brawl described as "unsavoury events" in January. The incident occurred outside Gayfield Park, Arbroath at around 9.45pm on Friday, January 23 after the game between Arbroath and Greenock Morton. A video of the incident was shared on social media, showing the running battle between both sets of supporters. Yobs wearing hoods and face coverings can be seen swinging fists and throwing kicks before the fight is broken up by officers, stewards, and fellow fans.
Arbroath FC condemned the incident which occurred after the club had allowed youngsters under the age of 17 to attend the match free of charge. Greenock Morton also slammed the behaviour while both clubs committed to helping police with their enquiries into the violence. Since the incident, police have confirmed that one teenager has been charged. A spokesperson said: "A teenage male was charged in connection with breach of the peace following disorder outside Gayfield Stadium in Arbroath on Friday, January 23. He was reported to the Youth Justice Assessor."
Celtic and Hearts Fans Clash
Most recently, Celtic and Hearts fans clashed in a violent mass brawl outside Parkhead before the league match last weekend. Metal barriers were raised as weapons and punches were thrown as the carnage broke out on the Celtic Way as a group of Hearts fans made their way along London Road before kick-off. In shocking footage widely shared online, a woman could be heard screaming as a number of fights broke out between the rival fans. Punches were thrown as the fans fought running battles on a grass verge while ordinary punters looked on.
Enquiries are ongoing into the disorder before the match which also included supporters hurling glass bottles towards one another. The shameful scenes continued after the full time whistle as well. An altercation followed on Springfield Road as supporters left the ground and a police officer was allegedly assaulted and required hospital treatment. A 23-year-old man appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court on Monday, October 19 in connection with the incident. Speaking on Sunday, a spokesperson for Police Scotland said: "A 23 year-old man was arrested and charged in connection with an assault on a police officer following a disturbance on Springfield Road, Glasgow after the Celtic and Hearts match on Sunday, October 18. The officer was taken to hospital and released after treatment."
