A Hibs supporter who punched the Hearts goalie at an Edinburgh derby has been banned from matches – for the second time.
Edward Harrold, 21, hit Zdenek Zlamal on the nose as the keeper attempted to retrieve the ball from behind his goal at Tynecastle in October.
At Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday, Harrold was banned from attending Scottish football matches for 12 months and ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work in the community.
The court heard the thug had served a previous football banning order for possessing smoke bombs at a Hibs match.
Harrold, of Musselburgh, East Lothian, had denied assaulting Zlamal. He was found guilty after a trial last month and returned to court yesterday for sentencing.
Sheriff Alison Stirling said Harrold’s assault had the “potential to create great disturbance” and “provoke crowd fury”.
The Hibs fan’s assault on the Czech international was caught on camera and shown live on BT Sport at the time. Several replays of the clash were shown in court during Harrold’s trial
Defence lawyer Ross Jenkins said Harrold “accepts contact was made (with Zlamal) but that it was minimal”.
The solicitor said Harrold is currently suspended from his employment due to the court case.
Previously, the court heard from Zlamal through an interpreter.
The keeper, 33, said: “I was going to pick the ball up and as I bent over to pick it up, someone hit me to my nose.”
The match on October 31 ended goalless.
