A FOOTBALL fans campaign group has accused prosecutors of "vindictive behaviour" after a sheriff threw out the case against nine Celtic supporters accused of hanging effigies of Rangers fans at an Old Firm match.

Sheriff Allan Findlay criticised prosecutors for not giving defence lawyers "full disclosure" of available evidence against the fans who were charged following the match in September 2016.

The accusations centred on 'mock execution' effigies and a banner hung at the game which Celtic won 5-1 and were said to be “threatening and offensive”.

A banner which stretched over the crowd read out:”Know your place h*n scum.

The hanging of effigies within Parkhead with one depicting a Rangers fan, was deemed "inappropriate behaviour" according to an official response to fans complaints to the First Minister at the time.

The case was originally raised as an Offensive Behaviour at Football Act and was altered to another charge of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner.

In March, MSPs voted to repeal Scotland's controversial Offensive Behaviour at Football Act brought in in 2011 in a bid to crack down on sectarianism.

Ross Brady, 29, Kieran Carvill, 19, Andrew McDonald, 24, Kasey McKinnon, 19, Martin Gallagher, 27, Mark Macdonald, 24, Lewis McLachlan, 20, Myles McSwegan, 18 and Michael Bentley, 28, were due to stand trial at Glasgow Sheriff Court on Tuesday.

But the sheriff quashed the case after hearing that the Crown after two years gave defence lawyers disclosed an edited version of what they felt was relevant in the case.

The sheriff said: “In my view the appropriate remedy here is to desert the case and desert it pro loco et tempore.

“If the Crown wish to consider re-raising it with the criticism I have made of disclosure, it is a matter for them.”

READ MORE: 'Mock execution' effigies at Old Firm game were "inappropriate", says Scottish Government

The Fans Against Criminalisation group which campaigned for the repeal of the Act were fiercely critical of the prosecution.

They said: "Another nine boys had their charges thrown out today after two years since the 'incident' and six months since the OB Act (original charge) was repealed.

"The sheriff questioned the procurator fiscal closely about the fact that evidence was not disclosed to all the defence solicitors.

"The defence solicitors for the nine variously called the decision 'by design'; the disclosed evidence 'mosaic' and said the police were 'unaccountable' and that this was a threat to the public interest.

"So as we work through the 65 outstanding OBFA charges from April we see charges prosecuted till the very last minute then being dropped or the Sheriff drops them. Scandalous politicisation of the PSoS (Police Service of Scotland) and the Crown Office Procurator Fiscal Service.

"Vindictive behaviour towards young fans and all because football fans got the Act repealed."

A Crown Office spokesman said: “We note the decision of the court.”

The hanging blow up dolls adorned with Rangers scarves could be seen at the start of the live TV coverage of the match as the players took to the pitch.

Rival fans have disputed the significance of the stunt with some suggesting it was making reference to Rangers FC liquidation in 2012, but others emphasised that they were mock executions.

It also came just days after former Rangers star Kris Boyd spoke out about his brother Scott taking his own life.

Others pointed out it coincided with World Suicide Prevention Day.

The OBFA legislation has deeply divided opinion from the start, with those who supported it said it was needed to fight the scourge of sectarianism within Scottish football.

But opponents said the law treats football fans as "second class citizens", and is not needed as police and the courts already had sufficient powers to deal with offensive behaviour.

They also claimed that the law is badly worded, and therefore open to different interpretations of what is and is not "offensive behaviour".