Football hooligans caused “widespread disorder” throughout Dundee during a top-of-the-table clash between Dundee United and Aberdeen, a court has heard.
At Dundee Sheriff Court on Wednesday, a local teenager admitted squaring up to police in what was just one of a series of separate incidents across the city stemming from the match on December 13.
Cameron Healy, 18, was part of a group of fans in Dundee city centre following the Premiership clash last month.
Fiscal depute Trina Sinclair told Dundee Sheriff Court: “In the lead-up to the match there was serious disorder across the city.”
The court was told the trouble continued after the match. At 6pm a fight broke out in Whitehall Crescent and Healy was in a group who walked towards police, apparently in an attempt to rescue a male who had been arrested.
“They were told by police to move back which they all did, except the accused,” the fiscal depute added.
“He became volatile and refused to move away. He was warned that he would be arrested if he continued in the same manner.
“He challenged the officers to fight and when he was arrested continued to goad them. The area was busy with passers-by at the time.”
Healy, of Emmock Woods Crescent, admitted behaving in a threatening and abusive manner by shouting, swearing, threatening violence towards police and refusing to desist while on bail in Whitehall Crescent on December 13.
Sentence was deferred until February 9.
* In separate incidents police arrested 17 people after trouble flared before and after Dundee United’s Tannadice clash with Aberdeen on that date.
Police were called to the Ambassador pub on Clepington Road after dozens of fans were involved in scuffles.
The pub was eventually cleared of fans but pictures of damage to the premises, including one fan holding a sink aloft, later emerged on social media.
Mounted police also had to gallop up North Isla Street from Tannadice to deal with a group of around 30 ‘casuals’ who had descended on the Snug Bar in Main Street.
A police spokesman at the time confirmed there were several ‘skirmishes’ in the streets but added the incidents had been quickly dealt with by police.
The unusual levels of disorder reflected the high stakes of the so-called ‘New Firm’ derby, which saw Aberdeen run out 2-0 winners thanks to two first-half goals from Adam Rooney at Tannadice.