Teenagers avoid football banning orders despite involvement in Edinburgh city centre brawl
A former Celtic starlet has escaped a football banning order despite being involved in ‘the worst football-related violence to have occurred in Edinburgh in decades’.
Cruz Dunbar acted in a culpable and reckless manner when he launched a traffic cone at opposing fans when Hibs and Motherwell thugs clashed in the capital’s city centre.
Dunbar, 18, took part in the mass disorder that erupted at the city’s St Andrew’s Square following a Scottish Premiership match at Easter Road stadium on October 5 last year.
Dunbar, who was signed by Celtic as a youngster and is now currently playing with Stirling Albion, was caught on CCTV throwing the cone during the fighting between rival fans.
Co-accused Jack Selbie, 19, was also arrested and charged after he was seen shouting, swearing and fighting with Hibs fans during the same incident. Selbie, from Motherwell, Lanarkshire, is also employed in the football industry and currently works as a youth football coach with Clyde FC.
Dunbar pleaded guilty to a charge of culpable and reckless conduct while Selbie admitted to causing a disturbance and committing a breach of the peace when they appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court earlier this year.
The pair returned to the dock for sentencing where Sheriff Susan Sharp was told any football banning order would effectively destroy the careers of the teenagers.
Lawyer Murray Robertson, defending Dunbar, said his client had been signed as a youngster by Celtic and is now employed by Stirling Albion and out on loan at Lanark Utd.
Mr Robertson told the court Dunbar “takes full responsibility” for his actions and has “expressed regret and remorse” for taking part in the violence. The solicitor said: “If a football banning order is imposed he will not be able to play anymore and for an 18 year old man who is talented that would be a significant punishment in itself.”
Ms Sinclair, for Selbie, said her client is a full time student and has a part time job coaching children with Clyde FC. The solicitor said: “His life very much revolves around sport and in particular football. A banning order would act as a barrier to his professional life.”
Sheriff Susan Sharp said: “On 5 October 2024 you became embroiled in the worst football-related violence and disorder to have occurred in Edinburgh in decades.
“You have both otherwise lived pro-social lives and I am prepared to accept that your age and immaturity are factors in your involvement. On this occasion I am not going to impose a football banning order with the sole reason being the imposition of such an order would have an effect on your employment.”
Dunbar and Selbie were sentenced to a community payback order and each told to carry out 270 hours of unpaid work as a direct alternative to a custodial sentence.
Sheriff Sharp told the pair “football hooliganism will not be tolerated” and any breach to the order will see them return to court and a football banning order will be imposed.
Dunbar, from Motherwell, played for local Lanarkshire team Villa Park FC before signing for a pro youth contract with Celtic at the age of 10 in May 2017. He signed for Stirling Albion in October 2023 and has recently been out on loan at West of Scotland League First Division team Lanark United.
Four police officers were injured and nine supporters arrested following the violent clash at the capital’s St Andrew’s Square at around 6pm on October 5 last year.
The Scottish Premiership match saw Motherwell triumph 2-1 with second half goals from Apostolos Stamatelopoulos and Andy Halliday.
Junior Hoilett had equalised for the home team before having midfielder Nectar Triantis sent off in front of a crowd of 15,892.