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Man jailed for throwing bottle at Celtic’s physio during Old Firm game

A Rangers fan has been jailed for a year after throwing a bottle at a Celtic physio during an Old Firm match, scarring him for life.

Alan Crawford, 33, was also issued a five-year soccer banning order for the act of “senseless violence” when he was sentenced at Glasgow Sheriff’s Court on Wednesday.

Celtic’s physiotherapist Daniel Friel required four stitches and was left with a scar after he was hit in the head by a bottle in the incident at Ibrox on April 3 last year.

When appearing in court earlier this month, Crawford, from Grangemouth, admitted to throwing a bottle at Mr Friel which hit his head “with serious injuries and permanent disfigurement”.

Sentencing Crawford on Wednesday, Sheriff Tony Kelly described it as an act of “reprehensible conduct.”

He said: “You assaulted the complainant by throwing a bottle at him which hit him on the head.

“The attack occurred during a football match between Rangers and Celtic.

“The complainant worked as a physiotherapist for Celtic Football Club. He was sitting on the bench for the visiting team. When he left the stall, he felt a blow to the left side of his head and saw a small bottle.

“He was bleeding and was treated by the club doctor.

Glasgow Sheriff's Court
Crawford was sentenced in Glasgow Sheriff’s Court (Jane Barlow/PA)

“This was an attack on a person in the course of their employment. The throwing of the bottle was a senseless act of violence.

“This had consequences for the person you injured and these consequences will stay with him for the rest of his life.”

Celtic won the game 2-1.

Defense agent Harvie Diamond said Crawford, a father, feels remorse for his actions and asked the sheriff to consider alternatives to custody.

He said: “He feels extremely bad that he did what he did.

“In three seconds of his life he picked up a bottle, dropped it and unfortunately hit the physiotherapist.

“I think he’s learned his lesson.”

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