Two men jailed after assault left fan with bleed on brain following Celtic and Rangers game

Two men who assaulted a football fan and left him with a bleed on the brain have been jailed for more than three years.

Jordan James Adam, 27, and Richard Love, 26, both from Airdrie, pled guilty to the serious assault of the man.

The pair also pled guilty to threatening and abusive behaviour at Glasgow Sheriff Court on Tuesday, January 30 following an investigation by the British Transport Police.

Both were sentenced to three years and nine months in prison on Tuesday, February 20 as well as given a seven-year Football Banning Order.

The court heard how on February 2, 2022, Adam and Love were travelling home from a football game between Celtic and Rangers and boarded a train at Glasgow Queen Street.

The victim, a man in his 40s, got on the same train at Shettleston railway station, sitting behind the pair who started to sing football chants.

The court heard how the chants turned abusive, and a verbal altercation began.

Shortly afterwards, Adam lunged toward the victim and attacked him before being joined by Love who punched the victim in the head and upper body before the pair were physically removed from the victim by other passengers.

After they were separated, the victim moved to the next carriage.

The court heard when the train arrived at Easterhouse railway station, the victim left the train and Love immediately ran towards him and knocked him to the ground.

Love proceeded to punch the man repeatedly while they were on the ground before Adam ran over, stamping on the victim’s head and knocking him unconscious.

The victim was taken to hospital where a CT scan showed he had a bleed on the brain as well as bruising to the right side of his brain.

The injuries require long-term specialist input and have affected the victim’s ability to drive.

Investigating officer DC Thomas Gallagher said: “The sentence handed out underscores that violence tied to football and religious animosity is utterly unacceptable.

“We hold a firm stance against such behaviour in any setting, and I hope that the result in this case demonstrates that senseless violence will not be tolerated.”