Three men jailed for assault on Celtic supporter outside Ibrox
The men received prison terms of 12 to 18 months and seven-year football banning orders after admitting an assault that left a supporter with a bleed on the brain.
Three men were jailed at Glasgow Sheriff Court on 28 October 2026 for assaulting a Celtic supporter outside Ibrox Stadium in Glasgow after a Scottish Cup tie against Rangers in March. The supporter suffered a bleed on the brain; each man also received a seven-year football banning order.
Scott Dragsness, 55, was sentenced to 18 months in prison. Ben Stanex, 24, and Andrew Graham, 21, each received 12 months. The three had pleaded guilty on 7 October to assault to severe injury and danger of life, according to The Independent’s account of the court proceedings and the Glasgow Times.
What happened outside Ibrox
The assault happened on 8 March 2026, after Celtic beat Rangers 4-2 on penalties in a Scottish Cup quarter-final at Ibrox. The Crown Office said the 48-year-old supporter was trying to board a Celtic supporters’ bus when the men knocked him to the ground, according to The Independent. He was left unconscious, and scans at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital showed a bleed on his brain.
The Independent reported that a police drone monitoring fans leaving Ibrox recorded the attack. A motorist caught in traffic near the bus also recorded it. The Glasgow Times reported that the offence was aggravated by prejudice relating to religion or perceived religious affiliation. Prosecutors described the attack as motivated by religious prejudice.
Why the court imposed prison terms and football bans
Sheriff Andrew McIntyre called the assault a ‘concerted act of serious violence’ in sentencing remarks reported by The Independent. He said imprisonment was necessary to protect the public and deter others from offending. The Glasgow Times reported his conclusion that a prison sentence was the only available sentence in the circumstances.
The seven-year banning orders prevent the men from entering football grounds in the UK or travelling to support a team, The Independent reported. Fraser Gibson of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service said people involved in football-related disorder could expect to be held accountable by prosecutors, police and the courts, according to The Independent and the Glasgow Times.
Graham’s defence counsel said his involvement was limited to one kick and that the offence had not been planned, the Glasgow Times reported. Those were submissions on Graham’s behalf; the three men admitted the assault and each received a prison term and a football banning order.
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Sources and context
- Celtic fan left with bleeding on the brain in 'ferocious' attack after Old Firm derbyThe Independent, republished by Yahoo Sports; reporting text credits Nick Forbes and includes PA material
- Glasgow Rangers trio jailed after Celtic fan left with brain bleed outside IbroxGlasgow Times / USA Today; article states it was written by American colleagues and identifies Connor Gordon as court reporter
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.