Dunfermline Athletic bosses are to be questioned by police over the bizarre pre-match antics of East End Park mascot Sammy the Tammy.
Before the Fife derby kicked off on Saturday Sammy appeared on the pitch in what looked like a cardboard tank and pretended to open fire at Raith Rovers fans. This was accompanied by sound effects played through the stadium’s loudspeakers.
A police spokesman said, “Fife Constabulary are aware of the behaviour of the mascot at East End Park before the start of the game between Dunfermline Athletic Football Club and Raith Rovers Football Club. We intend to take up this matter with both DAFC and the individual concerned at the earliest opportunity.”
Rovers fans said the stunt was in bad taste, given recent threats to Celtic FC manager Neil Lennon and the death of Raith fan Lance Corporal Liam Tasker, who was killed by the Taliban forces in Afghanistan last month. They have called for the club and the mascot to make a public apology.
Raith Rovers Football Supporters Club chairman Gordon Adamson said, “I’d like to see this guy take the head off and apologise, as himself. It was absolutely disgraceful. If they’d done that at the Old Firm game, can you imagine what would have happened?”
He added, “I thoroughly believe Dunfermline will deal with this in a proper manner and I think an apology should be forthcoming.
“It took the shine off what was otherwise a good day out other than the result of course.”
Eddie Doig of the supporters club said, “Dunfermline’s mascot is an embarrassment to the club. It was in really bad taste. The worst thing was when the announcer put on the machine gun noises as well it must have been rehearsed.”
He added, “The mascot is there to provide an atmosphere for their own fans, not provoke the away fans.”
Three thousand Rovers fans had bought tickets for the crucial league clash, which saw the Pars go three points closer to promotion.
Mr Doig said, “We’d basically given the club £45,000 and were shocked they would do that. Someone has a sick sense of humour.”
Dunfermline chairman John Yorkston said, “We’ll be looking into it.”