THUGS from the Old Firm topped the league of shame for football violence and sectarian crimes on Scotland's trains last season.

And the latest British Transport Police figures show Celtic fans were the worst offenders.

The yobs were arrested for a string of sectarian, alcohol-related and violent offences over the 2009-10 SPL season.

Last night a BTP source said: "Old Firm fans are without doubt the worst among fans when it comes to starting football-related trouble.

"Violence and loutish behaviour sadly goes along with games... on both sides of the divide."

Out of 48 arrests, 20 were Hoops fans while 10 Rangers fans were lifted.

******well fans were the next worst offenders, with seven arrests on Scotland's railways.

Four Hamilton Accies fans were arrested for breach of the peace on August 15 last year.

The roll of shame also included two Hibs fans. A supporter of Morton, another of St Mirren, a Hearts fan and just one member of the Tartan Army were also picked up. Even a follower of Ayrshire juniors side, Irvine Meadow, was nabbed after a match.

Of the 20 Celtic arrests, 11 came on the last day of the season at Glasgow's Queen Street Station for sectarian offences - allegedly belting out a medley of bigoted chants on the Edinburgh to Glasgow train service.

The Celtic fans had been drinking after the SPL clash between Hearts and Celtic at Tynecastle on May 9, which the Bhoys won 2-1. A BTP spokesman said: "After the match 11 people were arrested on a train coming back to Glasgow.

"These Celtic fans were arrested for sectarian offences allegedly committed on the train.

"Alcohol was also a major factor in this incident."

In another incident a drunken Hoops fan was busted for urinating in a Glasgow railway station on March 27.

And an Aberdeen fan was allegedly set on FIRE by a Hibs fan. The Dons devotee was dressed up as a sheep and travelling home on the Edinburgh to Aberdeen train last Halloween when he caught alight.


We told in March how Scotland's top transport cop, Chief Superintendent Ellie Bird, vowed to wipe out sectarianism and hate crimes from Scotland's railways.

BTP say they are pleased with the latest figures, which mark a reduction in crime on the railways over the last season. There were 64 arrests for football disorder during the 2008-9 season.

A British Transport Police spokesman said: "This is quite a reduction on the previous season's arrests.

"It's because our message is getting across and the vast majority of football fans are well behaved.

"And we have the support of SPL clubs in taking action against fans who shame their teams and let down their fellow supporters."