A Celtic fan has been banned from football matches for two years after making an offensive gesture to Lawrence Shankland during a pitch invasion. Liam Connolly, 37, from Kirkcaldy, pleaded guilty to breach of the peace at Glasgow Sheriff Court this week.
The incident occurred on 16 May after Celtic's 3-1 win over Hearts, a result that secured the club's 56th league title. A mass pitch invasion followed the final whistle, and court documents state Connolly was part of a disorderly crowd that entered the field of play. He approached then-Hearts striker Shankland, who is 31, and made an offensive gesture towards him while carrying a child unknown to the Crown.
Court outcome and official reaction
Connolly was sentenced to 150 hours of unpaid work and received the two-year football banning order. Constable Ryan Beveridge said the behaviour after the final game was completely unacceptable. He stated that disorder would not be tolerated, and that Police Scotland worked with clubs to ensure the safety of players, staff, and supporters.
As Celtic prepare to host Hearts again this weekend, they sit top of the Premiership with 21 points from eight games. The club will be looking to extend their two-point lead at the top of the standings. Celtic have scored 12 goals in their last three league matches. Hearts, meanwhile, have struggled for consistency, with their top scorer Lawrence Shankland having an average of 0.75 goal minutes per game this season.
Read the full report at BBC Sport Football
