A football fan was today ordered to carry out 120 hours of community service for a pitch invasion which marred Celtic's Champions League victory over AC Milan.
Robert McHendry, 27, ran on to the pitch and confronted visiting goalkeeper
Dida as Celtic celebrated a last-minute winning goal against Milan in Glasgow
last month.
Today at Glasgow Sheriff Court he was ordered to carry out 120 hours of
community service.
He earlier admitted causing a breach of the peace at the October 3 match,
saying he was 'carried away' by the goal.
Sentencing, Sheriff Craig Scott said: 'The circumstances of this offence mean
that serious consideration must be given to a sentence of imprisonment.
'However I am satisfied that in your particular case there's a direct
alternative to imprisonment in the form of community service.'
He added the order would have been for 180 hours had McHendry not pleaded
guilty at an early stage.
Defence lawyer Raymond McIlwham, said his client recognised that the pitch
invasion had the potential to set off a 'full-scale disturbance'.
'Mr McHendry accepts as do I the consequences could have been greater in
respect of both Celtic Football Club and also in respect of other persons.'
He went on: 'The context of this offence is the realisation as far as Mr
McHendry is concerned that his team had beaten the European Champions.
'Whilst that in no way excuses the action, this is not an offence that
occurred against a background of rivalry or tribalism.
'It was a euphoric moment for someone who perhaps the fortunes of his
football team may have had too greater significance in his life.'
He added: 'This was thoughtless behaviour rather than calculated and
malicious.'
And he said McHendry recognised such actions 'must be discouraged at all
costs'.
The incident happened as Celtic fans celebrated the last-minute goal from Scott
McDonald.
Single father McHendry ran up to Milan goalkeeper Dida, and made slight
contact with the player before disappearing back into the crowd.
After briefly chasing after the fan, the Brazilian collapsed theatrically to
the ground before being stretchered off with an icepack against his face.
McHendry, of Cambuslang near Glasgow, handed himself in to police the
following day and went on to admit the breach of the peace charge.
The Glasgow court heard that McHendry told police: 'I was running over to
celebrate with the team. As I was running by I tapped the keeper of AC Milan on
the shoulder.
'I said, 'unlucky, Dida' and continued running towards the team.'
The labourer was handed a life ban by Celtic for his actions, and also
publicly branded a 'balloon' by First Minister Alex Salmond.
Celtic were fined £25,000 by UEFA as a result of the security breach, although
half of this was suspended for two years.
The club will have to pay the rest if they offend again.
Dida was found guilty of unsporting behaviour during the incident and has been
banned for one Champions League match.
