Man who struck and disfigured footballer after throwing seat at game jailed

A man who left a football player with a serious injury and permanent facial disfigurement by throwing part of a seat on to the pitch has been jailed for 18 months.

David Gowans, 32, hurled the object following a league match between Aberdeen and Dundee United at Tannadice on 17 May 2025. It struck then Aberdeen player Jack MacKenzie in the face, leaving him with a "deep 2in laceration" to his left eyebrow and a "5cm abrasion" below his left eye.

The incident occurred as fans invaded the pitch following Dundee United's 2-1 win - which secured them fourth spot in the Scottish Premiership and a place in Europe. Father-of-one Gowans, who was said to have been working as an offshore operator at the time, had been a member of the Aberdeen ultras supporters' group.

Sheriff Alastair Carmichael told him: "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." MacKenzie, who now plays for Plymouth Argyle, was struck after he had gone to the area of the pitch in front of the travelling Aberdeen FC fans to thank them for their support. Sheriff Carmichael was shown CCTV footage of the incident, which showed MacKenzie lying on the pitch receiving medical attention.

He was later taken off the pitch in a wheelchair. Gowans pleaded guilty to culpable and reckless conduct at Dundee Sheriff Court in November.

He was sentenced on Monday. As well as the jail term, Gowans was additionally banned from attending football matches for 10 years.

He has already been handed a lifetime ban by Aberdeen FC. Sheriff Carmichael said: "There is no reasonable alternative to a custodial sentence.

"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." Prosecutor Lee Corr previously told the court that on the day of the incident Gowans sent text messages to Lynn Fiske, Aberdeen FC's supporter liaison officer, in which he initially denied but later admitted throwing the seat. In one message, the father-of-one said he "wasn't aiming at anything or anyone" and that the section of seat had just been "there right next to me".

He described it as "a disastrous mistake". Ms Fiske advised him to turn himself into the police, but Gowans did not and was arrested and charged a couple of days later.

During a police interview, Gowans admitted drinking a half litre of vodka prior to leaving home for the match. Defence lawyer Larry Flynn told the court his client had been inebriated at the time he threw the chair, and that he was so drunk he missed the supporters' bus home to Aberdeen and had to get a taxi instead.

He added that Gowans was "extremely embarrassed" by the incident, and that he accepts "he let himself down and let his football club down". Helen Nisbet, procurator fiscal for Tayside, Central and Fife, said: "This was disgraceful conduct which could have resulted in far greater consequences.

"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.".