A woman suffered sectarian abuse after she pulled up a father and son who abused referee Willie Collum. Marna Ferguson was called a "fenian" by Robert and Alastair Kirkwood at Ibrox Stadium on February 6, 2022.
Mr Collum officiated as Rangers faced Hearts in a match that the hosts would go on to win 5-0. Glasgow Sheriff Court heard the pair were part of a group of Rangers fans chanting "Who's the fenian in the black?" at Mr Collum.
Miss Ferguson - who was with her 15-year-old daughter - told the duo who are season ticket holders to "mind their language". Both men - aged 59 and 31 - took offence to being challenged and called Miss Ferguson a "f***ing fenian" and a "fenian b******."
The situation initially calmed down but later on Miss Ferguson would go on to take a selfie which contained the men in the background. The Kirkwoods became "animated" and threatened they would take the phone off of her.
Prosecutor Ryan Diamond added: "Robert Kirkwood said at the time that there was nothing wrong with the word fenian. At the same time, Alastair Kirkwood made his way down to where Miss Ferguson was sitting and said 'don't ever take a picture of me again you f***ing grass'."
Miss Ferguson and her daughter were stated to be upset as a result of their conduct. Security was later notified and Alastair Kirkwood was arrested at his home in the city's Barlanark later that night.
Robert Kirkwood, of Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire, handed himself into a police station a week later. Both men pled guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner aggravated by religious prejudice.
It was revealed that Alastair Kirkwood has two analogous previous convictions from 2011 and 2017 when he was given fines. Ross Yuill, defending, told the court that Alastair Kirkwood is an expecting dad working as a project engineer near London.
The lawyer said: "The sort of chanting that happened shouldn't have been happening at all. They should not have been joining in and they recognise and accept responsibility for that."
Mary Ellen Scobbie, defending first offender Robert Kirkwood, stated her client is a construction engineer.
She said: "He has been a season ticket holder for 12 years and sits in the Sandy Jardine stand. He said before this incident, the section received a behaviour warning due to the carry on in that section.
"He thinks this is why the victim spoke up about this incident. He is embarrassed to be in court."
Sheriff Mark McGuire considered jailing Alastair Kirkwood stating that he did not learn from his previous convictions and fines. He ordered him to do 100 hours of unpaid work while Robert Kirkwood was fined £940.
The sheriff said: "You are a disgrace to football fans and a disgrace to the team you say you support - Rangers Football Club. They are well rid of you from their stadium and matches.
"Not only did you shout sectarian abuse, but when a football fan was brave enough to call the two of you out on it, you proceeded and threatened that woman in front of her daughter.
"How dare you."
The Kirkwoods were banned from all UK football matches for five years each.
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