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Hibs fan who racially abused ex Ross County star Yan Dhanda over Hearts move learns fate in court





Flashback to the Ross County v Hibs game when Ross County's Yan Dhanda reported hearing racial abuse from a Hibs fan and reported the matter to referee Don Robertson.Picture: Ken Macpherson
Flashback to the Ross County v Hibs game when Ross County's Yan Dhanda reported hearing racial abuse from a Hibs fan and reported the matter to referee Don Robertson.Picture: Ken Macpherson

A Hibs fan who racially abused Ross County star Yan Dhanda shortly after he signed a pre-contract with Edinburgh rivals Hearts has escaped a ban on going to football grounds.

However Inverness Sheriff Court was told that 28-year-old Michael Bryce of South Carron Wynd, Edinburgh had, for nine months, adhered to a special bail condition not to attend any matches in Scotland until his case was concluded.

It was imposed when Bryce was released shortly after his arrest on the afternoon of May 4, 2024.

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On Wednesday, he appeared before Sheriff Sara Matheson and admitted racially aggravated abusive behaviour towards the player at the Premiership game in Dingwall.

He had been due to go on trial and the Hearts star would have been required to give evidence, but a guilty plea was agreed the day before.

Fiscal depute Karen Poke told the court that Dhanda was at the away end of the Victoria Park stadium taking a throw in and heard shouting from the Hibs fans.

Michael Bryce. Picture: Facebook
Michael Bryce. Picture: Facebook

But one fan - Bryce - went beyond acceptable banter and Dhanda heard him shout: "Pakora-munching Hearts bastard."

Ms Poke said: "The player took it as a reference to his Asian heritage. The remark was reported to the police, and the accused was later arrested inside the ground.

"He told police he made the comment due to Yan Dhanda's impending move to Hearts," Ms Poke went on.

Defending, Myhrin Hill asked Sheriff Matheson not to impose a football ground banning order as it was her client's first offence, there had been no other offending and Bryce had obeyed the court order.

She added: "Football is a big part of his and his family's life. He has been going to matches for 20 years without incident. He travelled to the game on the train and was drinking too much."

Sheriff Matheson fined Bryce £780 and declined to ban him from future games.

Sheriff Sara Matheson.
Sheriff Sara Matheson.

But she gave him a stern ticking off by saying: "Behaviour such as this brings shame to yourself, other Hibs fans who will be ashamed by this and on Scottish football as well.

"The only reason I am not imposing a banning order is because it is your first offence."


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