A FORMER SFA coach has narrowly avoided prison after admitting being involved in the shameful Scottish Cup final pitch invasion.
Hibs fan Greg Binnie, 19, pled guilty to confronting and making offensive gestures at Rangers’ goalie Wes Foderingham at Hampden Park on May 21.
Sports coaching student Binnie was in the dock at Glasgow Sheriff Court yesterday after appearing from custody days after the match.
He was charged under the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act with being engaged in behaviour likely to incite trouble.
Since his crime, Hibs have banned Binnie indefinitely from watching the team or buying tickets for any games.
READ MORE: Hibs fan pleads guilty to confronting Rangers keeper Wes Foderingham during Hampden riot
The court heard Binnie climbed over fencing and ran on to the pitch at the end of the match, which Hibs won 3-2 after a last-minute goal.
Sheriff Ian Miller told the teenager, from Ratho near Edinburgh, that the maximum sentence was 12 months in prison and that his actions merited a custodial sentence.
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But he added: “I see a much greater public benefit in giving you the chance to use your considerable gift and talent in a way, while giving others a chance to take advantage of this gift and talent.”
He handed Binnie a community payback order with the condition he must carry out 240 hours of unpaid work in six months, and a two-month restriction of liberty order.
The court heard that Binnie, who was identified from CCTV, had no previous convictions.
A former SFA intern, he was working as a squash coach at George Watson’s college in Edinburgh. He has lost his job.
Lorenzo Alonzi, for Binnie, described his actions as “boyhood stupidity”.