Dundee United have reacted furiously to a claim that they have accepted an apology from a fan who ran on to the pitch at a European home game.
The Tannadice side dismissed Barry McHugh’s claim he met club chairman Stephen Thompson after writing to apologise for his pitch invasion during the Europa League clash with Dinamo Moscow in August.
A spokesman for the club told The Courier that no such meeting had ever taken place and the 26-year-old’s lifetime ban from Tannadice remained in place.
He said: ”To our knowledge there has been no letter written to the club we have not received anything. Secondly there has been no meeting between any official or director of the club and Mr McHugh.”
The claims were made during a court appearance last week where McHugh admitted breaching the peace by running on to the pitch on August 2.
His solicitor David Duncan told the court McHugh had written to the United chairman following the offence and attended a meeting where his apology was accepted.
Mr Duncan declined to comment on United’s statement when contacted by The Courier.
It is understood the club are furious at McHugh, not only for the meeting claim but also for his actions at such a high-profile occasion.
The club were hit with a record £13,500 fine from Uefa for crowd trouble between supporters at the match and McHugh’s pitch invasion.
McHugh is the subject of an indefinite ban from Tannadice as a result.
McHugh, of Coupar Angus Road, by Birkhill, admitted conducting himself in a disorderly manner by running on to the pitch and celebrating with players following a goal by Willo Flood.
He ran from his seat in the Shed end at Tannadice and jumped on to a pile of United players celebrating the goal.
Sheriff George Way warned McHugh he could impose a banning order if he did not show a change in attitude.