A bar manager was hit in the head with a bottle of prosecco when two rival groups of football fans clashed after a joke posted on social media backfired.
Fans of Scottish Premiership side St Johnstone were in Airdrie for their cup clash with Airdrieonians on Sunday afternoon. Ahead of the game violence broke out at the West End Bar where two groups of supporters clashed. Shocking video captured people fighting outside the bar before one yob threw bottles of drink back inside, with one of them striking manager Scott Rae. The fans, most with their faces hidden, then ran away.
Online speculation linked the outbreak of violence to a misjudged tweet sent out by a St Johnstone fan who called out rival fans. Greg Browning posted on social media if anyone wanted a “square go” he was at the bar - and they should “bring your mates, you’ll need them”.
Mr Rae, 47, told the Daily Record: “The trouble all started because of the tweet the guy put out. He’s messaged me saying he’s sorry and it was meant to be a joke, but it’s not very funny.
“As I was trying to put folk out who had been punching people in the pub, I was trying to shut the doors and was hit by a prosecco bottle somebody had thrown. I wasn’t hurt but there were people inside with cuts and bruises.
Widow brings pillow with late husband's face on it to pub every New Year's Eve
A yob was seen throwing a bottle inside the bar (Instagram)
The violence was blamed on a misjudged tweet (Instagram)“The majority of folk in the pub at the time were Tartan Army fans who are friends of mine I had invited to come and watch the game. I was disgusted.”
St Johnstone fan Browning later posted on Twitter removing himself from the violence. He wrote: “Shocked people think my tweet was anything other than a joke.
“It’s backfired and for that, I apologise. I get people want to blame someone but if you think the Airdrie fans were only there as a result of my tweet, you need to wisen up.
“Airdrie fans knew on the Friday night St Johnstone fans would be in there. It’s convenient for others to make me the scapegoat when the reality is there was going to be bother without my tweet.”
Several people disagreed and suggested people had only gone to the bar to look for the supporter. One wrote: “There’s no way the Airdrie boys show up at that pub without the tweet. Ask anyone from here and they will tell ye how rare it is to see them anywhere near the West End bar. You should wisen up and stop making excuses for the trouble you caused.”
Another added: “You call out any fan base for a fight on their own turf, what do you think is going to happen? What happened today is on you, and no-one else.”
Championship side Airdrieonians eventually had the last laugh as their side got a surprise 1-0 win, setting up a clash with Hearts in the next round of the cup.
A scotland>Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Enquiries are ongoing into a disturbance involving Airdrieonians and St Johnstone football fans within a pub on Alexander Street, Airdrie around 1.30pm on Saturday, 20 January, 2024. The investigation is continuing to identify those involved.”
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