Fan admits soccer star road rage

Lennon was verbally abused

A Rangers fan has admitted carrying out a foul-mouthed road rage attack on Celtic star Neil Lennon.

Thomas Ferrie, of Maxwell Place, Uddingston, hurled abuse at Lennon on Glasgow's M8 motorway in February.

Lennon, who had a 12 year-old girl passenger, was so shaken he called police when he got home.

At Glasgow Sheriff Court on Tuesday, Ferrie, 35, was fined £500 for breach of the peace and faces a lifetime ban from Ibrox Stadium.

Sheriff James Friel ordered that Rangers be told of the conviction.

It was foolish of me to do it. It was because I am a Rangers fan and he is a Celtic player, but I am not a bigot Thomas Ferrie

The court heard that Lennon and the youngster had pulled onto the M8 near Charing Cross in his Mercedes at about 1415GMT on 17 February.

He ended up beside Ferrie, who recognised him and tried to cut in and block Lennon's lane, while travelling at about 50mph.

The midfielder dodged him, but car salesmen Ferrie rolled down his window and repeatedly yelled profanities at him.

The court was told Ferrie continued to act in "an angry manner" and made a series of rude gestures at the footballer until Lennon left the M8.

The ex-Northern Ireland international later phoned police, who traced Ferrie.

'More than banter'

He claimed that when he saw Lennon, he had wanted to talk about a recent Celtic and Hearts Scottish Cup tie, where the midfielder had been the victim of some rough tackles.

But Ferrie admitted the matter descended into abuse.

He told police: "It was foolish of me to do it. It was because I am a Rangers fan and he is a Celtic player, but I am not a bigot."

His lawyer Martin Lavery said Ferrie had been so ashamed, he had not told his family about the incident.

This behaviour was inflammatory and it must be clear conduct of this sort cannot be tolerated Sheriff James Friel

He went on: "This was more than banter. This was wholly unacceptable and this man now realises Mr Lennon should be able to go about his business without being subjected to this.

"The total stupidity of it all is not lost on him."

Mr Lavery also said Ferrie had not realised there had been a young girl in the car and wished to apologise for any distress.

Sheriff James Friel said: "This behaviour was inflammatory and it must be clear conduct of this sort cannot be tolerated.

"I am also ordering Rangers Football Club be notified by the court of this conviction. Any action they will take upon you remains to be seen."

Last September, Glasgow University students Gregg Miller and Neil MacLeod were fined after they chased after the player's car in the city's west end.

And last weekend, Celtic boss Martin O'Neill angrily hit out at opposition fans, who he claimed continually "racially abuse" his star midfielder.