NottsMFC Posted May 16, 2013 Report Share Posted May 16, 2013 From Motherwell Times The law is an ass! Smokebomb costs fan his seat at cup final Action from Motherwell v Hibs Published on 15/05/2013 15:35 A HIBS football supporter has been banned from the Scottish Cup final for setting off a smokebomb while watching his team at Fir Park. Russell Gilbert ignited the device during his team's SPL game with Motherwell on March 15. He was arrested and appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court where he admitted putting other fans in danger. The smokebomb was set off in the away section of the South Stand early in the game. Play was not disrupted and Motherwell ran out 4-1 winners. Sentence on Gilbert (19), of Musselburgh, East Lothian, had been deferred until last week for background reports. Sheriff John Miller then continued the case for another six months for good behaviour. Gilbert is currently on bail and a condition of that is he must not attend any regulated football match. Sheriff Miller ruled that condition should remain, meaning Gilbert will miss next week's Scottish Cup final when Hibs will take on Celtic at Hampden Park. He must return to court on, ironically, November 5 - Guy Fawkes Night - when the sheriff will consider a Crown request to impose a formal fixed-term banning order. As well as missing the final, Gilbert will be unable to attend any of Hibs' European games next season. The Easter Road side will play in the Europa League qualifiers regardless of the cup final result. Defence agent Douglas Barr said his client hadn't been in trouble before and was 'a first offender in the true sense of the word'. A Fir Park source said: "You have to feel sorry for this lad. He was caught on CCTV, but none of the fans around him had complained. It's not as if people were climbing over seats to flee." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frazzie Posted May 16, 2013 Report Share Posted May 16, 2013 'Well fans should show a bit of empathy for this guy. If there was a petition started to get him his Cup Final ticket back, I'd sign it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onthefringes Posted May 16, 2013 Report Share Posted May 16, 2013 A Fir Park source said: "You have to feel sorry for this lad. He was caught on CCTV, but none of the fans around him had complained. It's not as if people were climbing over seats to flee." Sensible approach from our club... shame nobody in authority will act accordingly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wellfan1984 Posted May 16, 2013 Report Share Posted May 16, 2013 What a disgrace, the fact the Crown (not the PF?) are even going to chase for a wider banning order makes it even worse. Good position by our club though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 16, 2013 Report Share Posted May 16, 2013 That's bleak, but he got off lightly compared to a Chelsea fan.. Ten year ban. Which is a frankly ridiculous punishment. Deputy District Judge Neil Thomas told him: "It's the potential for disaster that makes this case so very serious and only a custodial sentence can be justified." What an absolute mile-oot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatcalf Posted May 16, 2013 Report Share Posted May 16, 2013 What potential for disaster? Making things up these c***s and getting away with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 16, 2013 Report Share Posted May 16, 2013 What potential for disaster? Making things up these c***s and getting away with it. Quite. It's a standard argument regarding smoke bombs, as with Godwin's Law and Nazis, so it comes to pass that the Bradford fire will be brought up in a discussion. While I'm not going to defend smoke bombs and certainly not flares to the hilt, its an absolute nonsense of an argument. Smoke bombs can become an issue in enclosed spaces, if people have respiratory problems, its been brought up by the Celtic Disabled Supporters Association with the GB and the displays and things they do with smoke. In the main, it won't cause a great problem though. Flares are a bit of a different kettle of fish, as they are somewhat more dangerous. They look amazing, but I wouldn't want to use one, because I've nae idea what the story is. I know an Everton fan was badly burned in Liege, because some chap had taken a flare from a fucking North Sea Oil rig, designed to be seen from miles around. Launching out sentences like that is utterly ridiculous, genuinely feel for the kid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malky79 Posted May 16, 2013 Report Share Posted May 16, 2013 He should dye his hair, grow a beard(or shave off one if he already has one) and get a ticket and go, fuck the ban for something a petty as that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onthefringes Posted May 16, 2013 Report Share Posted May 16, 2013 Quite. It's a standard argument regarding smoke bombs, as with Godwin's Law and Nazis, so it comes to pass that the Bradford fire will be brought up in a discussion. While I'm not going to defend smoke bombs and certainly not flares to the hilt, its an absolute nonsense of an argument. Smoke bombs can become an issue in enclosed spaces, if people have respiratory problems, its been brought up by the Celtic Disabled Supporters Association with the GB and the displays and things they do with smoke. In the main, it won't cause a great problem though. Flares are a bit of a different kettle of fish, as they are somewhat more dangerous. They look amazing, but I wouldn't want to use one, because I've nae idea what the story is. I know an Everton fan was badly burned in Liege, because some chap had taken a flare from a fucking North Sea Oil rig, designed to be seen from miles around. Launching out sentences like that is utterly ridiculous, genuinely feel for the kid. Fair points well made, but, the use of this type of smoke pellet is utilisesed in enclosed spaces everyday... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weeyin Posted May 16, 2013 Report Share Posted May 16, 2013 Two things here. 1) The authorities are 100% guaranteed to overreact to these incidents. 2) Every man and his dog that has been within 100 miles of a football match knows this It's not worth the risk, so why bother. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbcmfc Posted May 16, 2013 Report Share Posted May 16, 2013 He should dye his hair, grow a beard(or shave off one if he already has one) and get a ticket and go, fuck the ban for something a petty as that. He could just move seats! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 16, 2013 Report Share Posted May 16, 2013 Fair points well made, but, the use of this type of smoke pellet is utilisesed in enclosed spaces everyday... Have I missed something? I should be clear, I'm totally fine with smoke pellets at the football, it's never bothered me and is pretty entertaining. My favourite was on an Everton forum when some chap claimed that the proliferation of smoke bombs was 'guaranteed' to lead to another Bradford fire, before floundering around the fact that A) football stadiums are now made of concrete, which isn't really known for its flammable properties, B) The fire was actually started by rubbish under the stand and C) that the whole thing was exacerbated by the stadium's condition. He then claimed football strips and jackets were 'highly flammable'. Can only presume he was Judge Neil Thomas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbcmfc Posted May 16, 2013 Report Share Posted May 16, 2013 Is a lot of Goodson not wooden? I'm sure the stand I sat in was wooden. The south stand at fir park certainly isn't though! Although this happened at an old firm youth game last season Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Posted May 16, 2013 Report Share Posted May 16, 2013 Although this happened at an old firm youth game last season That looks more like an actual football crowd than most SPL crowds do! The authorities must have some secret plan to see football die in this country. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 16, 2013 Report Share Posted May 16, 2013 Is a lot of Goodson not wooden? I'm sure the stand I sat in was wooden. The south stand at fir park certainly isn't though! Although this happened at an old firm youth game last season I've only been in the lower end of the Bullens, and the top of the Main Stand, but they were both concrete, Park End is new as well, so it is too. It was in response to this: At White Hart Lane, which is indeed, all concrete. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbcmfc Posted May 16, 2013 Report Share Posted May 16, 2013 Fair enough! I like the smoke bombs! Wouldn't risk setting one off myself, but quite happy for others to do it. Only highlight of "that night" at ibrox was the smoke bombs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_M_F_C Posted May 16, 2013 Report Share Posted May 16, 2013 Celtic one was at Ibrox, hold a flare aloft it's pretty safe, looks pretty cool. Put it on a plastic seat at your rivals stadium, it'll start a fire and cause damage, I'd imagine that was the desired effect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daver Posted May 16, 2013 Report Share Posted May 16, 2013 Only if the desired effect is to get your own club billed for the damage! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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