Aberdeen Supporter Jailed for 18 Months After Throwing Seat at Player

A football supporter who seriously injured his own player by throwing part of a stadium seat onto the pitch during a Scottish Premiership match has been sentenced to 18 months in prison and handed the longest football banning order available.

David Gowans, 32, carried out the reckless act following Aberdeen’s league fixture against Dundee United at Tannadice Park on 17 May 2025. In the aftermath of the match, Gowans ripped part of a seat from the stand and hurled it towards the pitch.

The projectile struck Aberdeen defender Jack MacKenzie, who had approached the section of the stadium occupied by the travelling Aberdeen support to applaud fans for their backing. MacKenzie, who now plays for Plymouth Argyle, suffered a deep cut to his left eyebrow and an abrasion beneath his left eye. The injuries have left him permanently disfigured.

At Dundee Sheriff Court, it was revealed that Gowans — a father of one who was working as an offshore operator at the time — was a member of the Aberdeen ultras supporters’ group. He admitted to culpable and reckless conduct in October.

Sentencing Gowans on Monday, Sheriff Alastair Carmichael delivered a stinging assessment of his behaviour. He told the court:

“Your actions were selfish, stupid, dangerous and utterly irresponsible.

You must have known that by throwing this item it could hit somebody.

If you didn’t consider this possibility, the level of recklessness is staggering.”

The sheriff said the incident had implications beyond the immediate injury, highlighting what he described as the “bigger picture”.

“This took place at a football match,” he said, “and could easily have triggered further disorder in the crowd.”

During an earlier hearing, the court was shown CCTV footage capturing the moment MacKenzie was struck. The video showed the player lying on the pitch for several minutes while medical staff treated him. He was later removed from the field in a wheelchair.

The footage also showed large numbers of Dundee United supporters close by on the pitch, celebrating their team’s victory, underscoring the potentially volatile atmosphere at the time of the incident.

Sheriff Carmichael concluded that a prison sentence was unavoidable.

“There is no reasonable alternative to a custodial sentence,” he said.

“This is needed because of the gravity of this crime, and it is needed in order to adequately punish you and adequately express the public disapproval of this behaviour, and discourage others from behaving in a similar fashion.”

In addition to the 18-month jail term, the sheriff imposed a football banning order preventing Gowans from attending matches for 10 years — the maximum length permitted by law.

“That is the maximum period that I can impose,” the sheriff noted.

Gowans has already been issued with a lifetime ban from Aberdeen Football Club.

Defence solicitor Larry Flynn told the court that his client had been heavily intoxicated at the time of the incident. He said Gowans had been so drunk that he missed the supporters’ bus back to Aberdeen and was forced to take a taxi instead.

Mr Flynn added that Gowans was “extremely embarrassed” by what had happened and fully accepted responsibility.

“He accepts that he let himself down and let his football club down,” the lawyer said.

The court also heard about text messages Gowans sent to Aberdeen FC supporters’ liaison officer Lynne Fisk shortly after the incident. In those messages, which were shown in court, Gowans admitted throwing the seat.

In one text, he said he “wasn’t aiming at anything or anyone” and claimed the piece of seating had been “there right next to me”. In another message, he described his actions as “a disastrous mistake”.

Procurator fiscal Helen Nisbet, representing Tayside, Central and Fife, condemned Gowans’ behaviour in strong terms following the sentencing.

“This was disgraceful conduct which could have resulted in far greater consequences,” she said.

“David Gowans’ crass behaviour could also have jeopardised the safety of other supporters.

As prosecutors, we will not hesitate to deal with this type of offending which puts people at serious risk of harm.”

The case has been cited as a stark warning about the dangers of crowd disorder and the severe legal consequences faced by those who endanger players and supporters alike.