Gran punched by thug Celtic fan scared to attend games as cops launch probe

“He said to me, ‘Gran, why didn’t I go after them?’ and I replied, ‘Because, they would have killed you’.”

A vulnerable grandmother says she has been left terrified to attend football matches again after allegedly being punched by a thug Celtic fan before their dramatic clash with Motherwell.

Patricia Stafford, was heading towards Fir Park with her grandson on Wednesday evening when horror unfolded before kick-off. Celtic would go on to snatch a dramatic 3-2 victory thanks to a last-minute penalty from Iheanacho but the 72-year-old from Ayr says the match was overshadowed by a shocking attack that left her bruised, shaken and suffering flashbacks.

The lifelong Motherwell supporter claims she was assaulted after a gang of youths who targeted her grandson for wearing a club scarf. The attack is alleged to have taken place on Knowtop Avenue outside of the gate to the John Hunter stand.

She said: “I go to Motherwell games with my grandson. We parked outside the ground early. We were walking to our gate.

“A lot of Celtic fans were around, then all of a sudden a group of six or seven in their late teens appeared.

“One of them jumped out of the crowd and grabbed my grandson’s scarf. He pulled him towards him.

“My instinct was to scream and when I did this, the Celtic fan threw a right hook and punched me right on the chin.

“He took his scarf and ran away.

“I have no idea why this happened. My grandson is not an ultra. He goes to the games with me and we sit together.

“He was totally defenceless when it happened.

“He said to me, ‘Gran, why didn’t I go after them?’ and I replied, ‘Because, they would have killed you’.

“They would have. They were in a big group and all of them would have gotten a kick into him.

“I always thought because he was with me, that he was safe. It’s really scary.”

The stunned gran, who was comforted by a passing group of Hoops fans following the alleged beating, says there were no officers nearby when it happened. Police Scotland has since launched a probe into the incident.

She said: “There were no police around because they were all up at the away section.

“An off-duty policewoman from Bellshill witnessed the full thing.

“She followed the boy to the away end. She went to officers there and pointed the boy out to them because she recognised the hole on the back of his trousers.

“The police told her they couldn’t do anything about it.

“I am just so disappointed in the police, they could have grabbed him and stopped him.”

Patricia, who was told by later told by officers that they would check CCTV in the area, says the ordeal has left her deeply traumatised.

She said: “It was so shocking and I was left shaken. The first aid checked on me but my face was all numb.

“The numbness started to disappear as the game went on and my neck started to ache and my back was sore. It was too much for me and we had to leave because I was in too much pain. We missed the last two goals.

“When I got home, I told my husband what had happened after he noticed the bruising on my face.

“I was so calm telling him but the minute I went to my bed, it all came flooding back to me.

“Every time I had a moment to think, I was having flashbacks. It was horrible and I was getting so upset.”

The gran has even considered giving up going to the football altogether after the incident.

She said: “After it happened, I asked my son, ‘Should I cancel my season ticket?’. He said, ‘Why should you?

“You’ve been going for years’. I ended up renewing my season ticket because I can’t let them win.”

But ahead of Motherwell’s away clash against Hibs at Easter Road on Saturday, Patricia admits she is now filled with dread.

She said: “My grandson and I have tickets for the Hibs away game on Saturday.

“When we purchased them, we thought it would be a lovely day out going to watch Motherwell via the train. Now I’m panicking and I don’t want to go.

“I tried to sort a seat on a supporters bus but they were all sold out. I feel vulnerable going myself and would feel safer in numbers.”

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “On the evening of Wednesday, 13 May, 2026, police received a report of an assault in the Knowtop Avenue area of Motherwell. Enquiries into the incident are ongoing.”

Motherwell and Celtic were approached for comment.

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