A Perth referee has escaped a football banning order for his role in a near-riot at McDiarmid Park.
Evan Punton admitted shouting and swearing at police officers and security staff during turbulent scenes following St Johnstone’s historic double cup win in May 2021.
The 22-year-old was one of more than a dozen men who were charged following the disturbance at the stadium’s north gate.
Perth Sheriff Court previously heard a disorderly mob threw fireworks and chanted abusive slogans such as “f*** the police”.
The ruckus was eventually quelled by police on horseback.
Punton, who has refereed at local matches while under bail orders not to attend St Johnstone games, appeared in the dock and pled guilty to a much-reduced breach of the peace charge.
Stayed at the back
Fiscal depute Andrew Harding said: “This is in relation to the behaviour at McDiarmid Park following the Scottish Cup win.
“Your Lordship may be generally aware of a group which gathered on a grass verge, opposite the north gate.
“The plea has been tendered today to show what Mr Punton’s involvement was.
“He was part of the crowd which moved to the gate, while shouting and swearing at police throughout, before going through the gate.”
Mr Harding said CCTV showed Punton did not go on to a temporary security fence, like other supporters did.
“He stayed towards the back of the crowd,” he said.
Joyous mood
Solicitor Pauline Cullerton, defending, said her client had been drinking earlier that day and went to the stadium to see St Johnstone players returning after the cup triumph in Glasgow.
“He was in a joyous mood but he accepts that he behaved in the manner suggested,” she said.
“He was simply there to celebrate his team’s win.”
She said Punton had complied with a court order put in place in July 2021, banning him from all St Johnstone games.
Asked about a potential football banning order, Mr Harding told the court: “I am aware that, in relation to other matters, it has been dependent on a case-by-case basis.”
Sheriff Francis Gill told Punton: “You have pled guilty to being part of a disorderly crowd and committing a breach of the peace.
“If you go along to matches to support your team, you should do only that and not shout and swear at police and security officers as you did.”
Punton, of Lumsden Terrace, Almondbank, was fined £450.
Previous prosecutions
He is understood to be one of the last supporters to be prosecuted in connection with the disturbance.
In June 2022, father-of-three Anthony Green was the first to admit his involvement.
The 43-year-old was one of only a few men caught on CCTV who was not wearing a mask.
He was fined £3,000 but Sheriff Lindsay Foulis did not ban him from attending football matches.
His fine was reduced following an appeal.
“This sort of behaviour needs to be stamped out,” the sheriff said.
Four weeks later, Lindsay William-Bayley pleaded guilty to the breach of the peace charge.
The court heard the 28-year-old was “no instigator or ringleader” but “got caught up in the melee”.
Sheriff Kirsty Hood fined him £270 but she also ruled out a football ban.
In October, Lewis Macleod was placed on supervision for a year and ordered to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work for his limited involvement in the disorder.
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