A FOOTBALL yob cleared of attacking opposing fans after celebrating an England goal in the Scotland end claimed he was targeted by police due to his nationality.
Cameron Calhoun, 53, stood trial at Glasgow Sheriff Court accused of engaging in a stand-up fight at Hampden Park on September 12 2023.
Scotland faced England in a friendly match that night which the visitors won 3-1.
Calhoun claimed that he was attacked by Tartan Army supporters after he cheered his team’s third goal while stood in the home end.
The convicted football hooligan stated that he was pulled from the crowd by police officers.
He stated that he heard a sergeant say: “Leave the Scottish and come and get the English.”
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Calhoun – who is a former stripper and dancer – was deemed a ringleader for violence at Watford FC matches and was banned by the club.
He once sneaked into the team’s Vicarage Road stadium and chained himself to a seat before police officers freed him with bolt cutters.
Calhoun – whose parents are Scottish – was also jailed for two months following a riot in Stockholm when England were defeated by Sweden in 1998.
He was last in court in June this year for breaching a football banning order imposed in 2023 for attacking a fellow supporter at Wembley Stadium.
Calhoun, of Middlesex, who has also used the name Campbell, pleaded not guilty to his latest charge of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner.
Calhoun told the court in his evidence that he had a ticket in the Scotland section which was close to the England fans.
He stated that he celebrated the first two England goals without any physical intervention by Scotland supporters.
However, he claimed that he was “cracked” on the face by a man wearing a “Scotland or Celtic” jersey when he cheered the third winning goal after 81 minutes.
Calhoun said he stumbled back on material separating the two sets of supporters before he was punched by another man in the row in front of him.
He stated: “I heard one of the sergeants say leave the Scottish and come and get the English. I heard that and then he came to me.”
Craig Dewar, defending, asked his client if he hit anyone and he replied: “I didn’t get the chance.”
In cross examination, prosecutor Katie Malcom put to Calhoun that he “goaded” the Scotland fans which he denied.
He said: “I am just as much Scottish and I don’t want to disrespect them.”
Calhoun further stated that he was initially informed by police that there was CCTV of the incident only to be told the next morning that there was not.
PC Andrew Cullen, 24, earlier told the court that he spotted Calhoun jumping on his seat and cheering the goal with his fists.
He stated that he turned away to alert his sergeant and when he paid attention to Calhoun again, the Englishman was in a “fight” with a man.
The officer said: “Both had each other with one hand and were throwing punches with the other.”
He told Miss Malcom that he did not see how the fight started as his attention had been diverted at the time.
Sheriff Joanna McDonald stated to Calhoun when she found him not guilty: “What I don’t have a doubt about is that something took place.
“The evidence from yourself and your defence witnesses, I accept.
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“It was put to me that certain things were not seen.
“Why the CCTV wasn’t available causes me concern…the benefit of the doubt is given to you.”
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