Man jailed for throwing bottle at Celtic keeper during Old Firm game

Man jailed for throwing bottle at Celtic goalkeeper

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SNS Celtic goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo had a bottle thrown at him after his team equalised against Rangers

A man who threw a Buckfast bottle at Celtic's goalkeeper during an Old Firm game has been jailed for eight months. Andrew Watt, 34, launched the missile at Finnish international Viljami Sinisalo from a Rangers supporters section of Ibrox Stadium during the derby match on 4 May. Glasgow Sheriff Court heard Watt initially threw a cigarette at Sinisalo after Celtic scored an equaliser against Rangers before then picking up the bottle and hurling it at the keeper as he celebrated the goal. The bottle was handed to police officers by a Rangers player and Watt, of Rutherglen, South Lanarkshire, was later identified on CCTV due to his "distinctive white teeth".

SNS A substitute player for Rangers removed some of the items thrown on to the pitch during the 4 May match, including a half bottle of Buckfast

Watt pleaded guilty to assaulting Sinisalo and Sheriff Mark McGuire said his actions were not of a "fan" but a "vicious drunken hooligan." The sheriff added: "Your motive was victim blaming. "You came to throw a bottle after he celebrated his team scoring an equaliser. That is his job - you victim was doing his job - the man was at his work. "In what possible world could you or anyone else think it is acceptable to throw a bottle at someone at his work? "Had the bottle hit him, the consequences could have been catastrophic, career-ending or worse." Sheriff McGuire told Watt that in the "febrile atmosphere" of the Old Firm game his actions could have sparked a riot. Watt was banned from all football matches for a period of six-and-a-half years. The hearing was told that Watt had 21 previous convictions which include two football-related matters from 2013 and 2015, the latter of which saw him jailed for 10 months along with a three-year football ban.

Drinking during the match

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