Leigh Griffiths

Good interview, only got nice things to say about Rodgers and his man management. Steered clear of slagging anyone at Celtic, spoke in glowing terms about Broonie as well. Seems to be genuinely happy back and playing football again and being able to walk to the shops without getting abuse so fair play to the guy.

 

FORMER Celtic and Scotland striker Leigh Griffiths endangered the lives of football fans by booting a lit flare into a crowd of supporters.

The player admitted acting in a culpable and reckless way by kicking the pyrotechnic device into a group of away fans while he was starring for Dundee.



Griffiths, who could face up to 12 months behind bars, was not present at Dundee Sheriff Court as he admitted striking one of the St Johnstone fans with the smoke bomb.

The 32-year-old former international star was not present in court, but solicitor Larry Flynn submitted a guilty plea on his behalf when the case called for an intermediate diet.

Mr Flynn told the court that Griffiths, who is playing for Australian Division 2 team Mandurah City, had intended to return to Scotland for his trial before changing his plea to guilty.

He said Griffiths, whose team face a top of the table clash this weekend, had a flight booked to be back in Dundee for 4 September when the trial was scheduled.


Mr Flynn said: "Mr Griffiths is not present. He is a professional footballer. I have been in touch with him in Australia. He has booked a flight to be back for 4 September.

"He is playing for his new team until September. He will be pleading guilty to this charge."

Sheriff George Way deferred sentence until 6 September and ordered Griffiths to appear in person.

He said: "Am I right in thinking he has emigrated and the whole direction of his life is no longer here?"




Mr Flynn told the court that Griffiths' children remained in Scotland. Fiscal depute Lora Apostolova told the court the player had previous convictions. Griffiths was ordained to appear nextmonth.

Griffiths, 32 from Edinburgh, admitted booting the flare into a group of fans watching the match between Dundee and St Johnstone on 22 September 2021.

He admitted carrying out the offence at Dens Park Stadium in Dundee, "during the course of a football match being played there."

The former Wolves frontman "culpably and recklessly kicked a flare, smoke bomb or similar item into the crowd occupying the Bob Shankly Stand.


He admitted that "in doing so, he did cause the said flare, smoke bomb or similar item to strike David Soutar on the body, all to the danger of the lieges."

The Crown previously told the court that Griffiths had been captured on CCTV kicking the smoking device over the pitchside barrier into a crowded area of opposition fans.

The court was told that the policeevidence had been agreed in the case.

The flare was thrown onto the pitch from the same section of supports, but no-one has been prosecuted in connection with that part of the incident.






Sheriff George Way said: "Looking at it, it is kicking a smoke bomb or similar item. One would readily infer from that that the flare came from somewhere.

"How does it matter how it works? It is a description of a thing giving off flames, smoke or whatever, and the defence will be along the lines of 'this nasty thing came at me and I kicked it. The scary thing came flying at me and I kicked it.'

"Does it matter if it is a flare, or a smoke bomb, or a pot plant?"

Griffiths was playing for Dundee when he struck rival supporter David Soutar with the pyrotechnic device during a local derby match.

Griffiths started his career at Livingstonwhere he made his debut as a sixteen-year-old, before moving to Dundee in 2009 for £125,000.




He moved to Wolves for around £150,000 in January 2011 and spent a period on loan with Hibs, where he won the SFWA Footballer of the Year award.

Griffiths then moved to Celtic, where he scored 90 goals in 173 games, and established himself as a regular member of the Scotland squad

 

JOHN BAIRD wants Scots stars to follow free-scoring Leigh Griffiths to Aussie side Mandurah City.

Ex-Celtic star Griff bagged 11 goals in ten games as the Western Australian side narrowly missed out on promotion.



Baird and Griffiths were joined by former Forfar and Brechin ace Murray Macintosh last season.

Now player-boss Baird wants to attract more Scots to Mandurah - with Griffiths set to return as player-coach next term.

Former Raith and Dundee striker Baird told SunSport: "We want to recruit new players for our pre-season in January.

"We lost the league on the last day of last season and it was a shocker for us after a good campaign.



The Scots boys have been great and we'd love to attract more to come over and play here.

"Leigh scored 11 in ten games. He's staying to play again next season and he could join the staff as a player-coach.

"He has two of his kids over here now, too, and that's been huge for him. He's made a real impact."

Football traffic has mainly gone from Australia to Scotland with Ange Postecoglou, Nick Montgomery and countless players heading to the SPF