Nazi salute football fan given four-year match ban
Baillie made the Nazi salute during a game at Firrhill Stadium
- Published
An Airdrie fan who did a Nazi salute during a Partick Thistle game has been banned from football matches for four years.
Lewis Baillie, 22, made the offensive gesture at Firhill Stadium in Glasgow's Maryhill on 22 January, 2022, when he was 19.
Baillie, from Airdrie, Lanarkshire, was also seen punching an unknown man to the ground after the match.
Baillie pled guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to conducting himself in a disorderly manner and committing a breach of the peace.
Sheriff Vincent Lunny - a former SFA compliance officer - ordered Baillie to carry out 162 hours of community payback as an "alternative to custody", as well as giving him the football ban.
Sherif Lunny told him that had the young person's sentencing guidelines not have applied, he would be "looking at something more serious."
The court heard how a "large scale disturbance" took place near the stadium after the Scottish Cup match.
Prosecutor Julianna Keenan said: "Paul Cairney and his wife who attended the game saw a man approach from behind and punch another man to the head.
"This caused the man to fall to the ground while the attacker ran off along Firhill Road."
Nazi salute
Later that day, Mr Cairney saw an image taken from inside the stadium during the match.
Miss Keenan said: "It showed a man doing a Nazi salute and Mr Cairney recognised this to be the man responsible for the earlier assault."
The witness contacted associates at Airdrieonians FC and the police were also made aware.
Baillie attended a police station where he was arrested for the matter.
Sheriff Lunny raised an issue from Baillie's background report whether it was accepted that he did a Nazi salute.
Martin Hughes, defending, replied: "Yes."
The lawyer added: "He is in lawful employment in road surfacing and is in a stable relationship with his partner, expecting a child.
"This was described as a flashpoint fixture but it does not excuse it.
"He had become involved in parts of the support which were unsavoury and he has now disassociated himself."
Addressing Baillie, Sheriff Lunny said: "This was quite an appalling incident at the football particularly when this could have been when other people were about.
"A husband and wife reported you to the police when they were simply there to enjoy the football and you took that away.
"Children could have been around - it is terrifying. This was utterly disgraceful conduct."