Five men accused of racist chanting on day of Old Firm at Ibrox

Five men will stand trial next year accused of racist chanting on the day of a Rangers and Celtic match.

Marcus Nicol, Andrew Taylor, George France, Jay McClymont and Kai Creelman allegedly committed the crimes on August 29 this year.

Court papers claim the suspects, all aged between 20 and 24, sang racist and sectarian lyrics at Glasgow’s George Square, Ibrox Stadium and various locations in between.

Prosecutors say they acted with others to behave in a threatening or abusive manner likely to cause a reasonable person fear or alarm.

Taylor, 24, and 21-year-old France face a further alternative charge in the city’s Buchanan Street on the same date.

It is alleged that they assaulted an unknown male while acting with another person.

The alternative charge states they culpably and recklessly threw bottles at a crowd to the danger of the people there, also while acting with another person.

This is also claimed to have been aggravated be racially aggravated.

All of the alleged offences are stated to have been racially aggravated and aggravated by religious prejudice.

Bradley Craig, 19, was also charged with culpably and recklessly throwing a bottle at members of the public, including a small child, at Buchanan Street on the same date.

It is said this is to the danger to the endangerment of the public.

Craig faces a separate charge of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner likely to cause a reasonable person fear or alarm.

The charge claims Craig, whilst acting with others unknown to the prosecutor, conducted himself in a disorderly manner, shouted, swore and uttered sectarian remarks.

It is stated that the alleged offence was aggravated by religious prejudice.

All six men pled not guilty across separate hearings at Glasgow Sheriff Court on Thursday.

They were granted bail pending trials in February next year by Sheriff Jonathan Guy.