A FOOTBALL fan who challenged players to fight during a match between Dunfermline Athletic and Falkirk avoided a banning order but was warned his "coat is on a shoogly nail".

David Shears, 45, of Spencerfield Road, Inverkeithing, had already been ejected during a game between the two teams earlier in the season and found himself in trouble again because of his threatening behaviour.

Appearing for sentencing at Dunfermline Sheriff Court, he had earlier admitted that on April 22 at East End Park, he engaged in behaviour which was likely to incite public disorder by shouting, swearing, acting in an aggressive manner, uttering abusive remarks, gesticulating in a threatening manner and challenging football players to fight.

Depute Fiscal Ms Rennie said during the match, which finished 2-1 to Falkirk with a Dunfermline player red carded and a dubious penalty awarded to the away side, the referee made some controversial decisions which caused unrest between the fans.

This led to Shears positioning himself next to the players tunnel, shouting abuse at them and appearing to challenge them to fight.

Sheriff Alastair Thornton said that social work reports suggested Shears believed he was provoked by the behaviour of the players.

"I have read what you said to the social worker that you feel there was some responsibility on the football player in the way he conducted himself but you accept that having found that to be provocative, you said something along the lines of 'come on over here' so you were challenging him," he said.

The court heard that back in 2009, Shears was fined for making racial comments at a football match.

"You have now committed your second football offence," Sheriff Thornton told him. "If there were to be any more incidents of offending, particularly if it were to come relatively quickly after this one, you would be very likely to be banned from attending football matches.

"You have expressed remorse for the offence and you realise how serious matters could be for you. I do not think it is appropriate to make a football banning order but your coat is on a shoogly nail. Do not let this happen again because against the background, a football banning order and a more serious punishment is much more likely."

He fined Shears a total of £300.