In an unusual twist in professional football, a referee in Scotland’s lower leagues famously “sent off” a spectator during a match—a scenario more commonly reserved for players, coaches, or coaching staff.
The incident took place in the Scottish League Two, the country’s fourth-tier professional league, during a weekend fixture between Edinburgh City and Stirling Albion. Edinburgh City suffered a 4–1 defeat at home, with Stirling Albion’s Russell McLean scoring a hat-trick to secure all three points for his side. The victory lifted Stirling Albion to sixth place in the League Two standings, while Edinburgh City languished at the bottom of the table.
| Team | Goals Scored | League Position Before Match | League Position After Match |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stirling Albion | 4 | 7th | 6th |
| Edinburgh City | 1 | 10th | 10th |
While McLean’s treble was the headline, the match’s most talked-about moment came in the 86th minute, when referee Josh Hay humorously brandished a red card at a spectator who had been causing repeated disruptions throughout the game. Security staff were reportedly instructed to remove the fan from the stadium.
Scottish publication The National reported that Hay’s gesture was intended as a tongue-in-cheek joke, amusing the crowd rather than enforcing an actual ejection. In reality, the spectator remained in the stands.
Nevertheless, the incident went viral after Stirling Albion posted a photo of the “red-carded” fan on X (formerly Twitter), prompting a flurry of reactions on social media. One fan commented:
“Hilarious! It makes no sense. The worst a referee can do is note the spectator’s misconduct, and security can remove them if necessary. Showing a red card seems like a self-aggrandising stunt.”
Another supporter argued in reverse, suggesting the referee himself deserved a red card:
“The referees needed to be carded. A handball went unpunished, McLean was hit in the neck with no penalty awarded, and the linesman was dreadful. Their decisions were disappointing.”
While spectators and social media users debated the humour and appropriateness of Hay’s red card, the episode serves as a light-hearted reminder that football can still produce moments of unexpected entertainment—even off the pitch.