Rangers fans who sang racist songs about Celtic striker Kyogo Furuhashi ended up in court after a video went viral.
Ian McKenzie, 31, Mark Speirs, 27, and Dylan Devine, 26, were all filmed chanting about the 27-year-old Japanese footballer. They were on a packed Rangers supporter's bus travelling from East Kilbride to watch the club's clash with Ross County at Dingwall last August.
McKenzie was recorded singing abusive lyrics suggesting Furuhashi ate a dog 'while punching his arm in the air. Speirs and Devine were captured changing the shape of their eyes to 'mimic someone of Asian descent' while singing 'let's all do Kyogo'.
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Footage was uploaded to social media where it went viral and led to a police probe after complaints were made. All three men were identified and given indefinite bans from attending Rangers matches by the club.
McKenzie, of East Kilbride, Speirs, of Wishaw, and Devine, of Cleland, appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court and admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by singing racist songs last August. Speirs and Devine also admitted making a racist gesture.
Sheriff Robert Vaughan fined McKenzie and Devine £450 each while Speirs was fined £650. A request by prosecutors to give the trio football banning orders was rejected by the sheriff after it emerged they had already been banned by Rangers.
A fourth man, Marc Newton, 25, of Bellshill, had his not guilty pleas accepted. A charge alleging McKenzie had possession of cocaine in East Kilbride last July was dropped.
Depute fiscal John Coogan told the court: "This matter came to light as a consequence of a video recording which featured on a social media platform and was then found on separate internet platforms and forums. Within the video footage, the accused McKenzie is observed to be singing the song while punching his right arm in the air.
"Both the accused Speirs and Devine are observed changing the shape of their eyes to mimic someone of Asian descent The matter was subsequently reported to police and, having identified each accused, all were cautioned and charged."
The court heard McKenzie was told to attend an anti-racism course by Ibrox officials shortly after the incident came to light.
Andy Brophy, defending McKenzie, said: "The consequences of this incident have been fairly considerable and he received a final written warning from his employer because of the publicity surrounding this offence. He was given an indefinite ban from Rangers games at Ibrox and away games which was a major part of his life and he is no longer the convener of the bus.
"He wishes to emphasise that he has no animosity towards the player or indeed anyone of Japanese ethnicity and is certainly not a racist but he accepts his conduct on that day."
Tom Watters, defending Speirs, said: "He is not a football hooligan who went to games intent on causing trouble but on that day alcohol had been taken. Someone started up this song and he joined in on the joke albeit a joke which was inappropriate.
"He has not a racist bone in his body and he will never behave in this way again."
Stephen MacBride, defending Devine, said: "He has supported Rangers for a number of years and has now been banned indefinitely which is a severe punishment but he only has himself to blame for that."
Sheriff Vaughan said: "The court will refuse the application for a football banning order in this case."
Following the incident, Rangers banned the Westwood RSC supporters' club from receiving tickets for future fixtures after the footage emerged and said the club 'condemns all forms of racism and discrimination.'
It added: "Those who partake in such behaviour are not representative of our club or the loyal support who have stood by us through thick and thin."
Celtic tweeted: "If reports are accurate then such sickening and pathetic racist behaviour directed towards Kyogo Furuhashi deserves absolute condemnation."
Kyogo later tweeted: "I'll never walk alone."
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