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Football fans are snorting cocaine inside Scotland’s top football stadiums, sparking fears the drug is linked to a rise in hooliganism.

The Class A drug was found in tests at six of the ­country’s top flight grounds during a Sunday Mail investigation.

Our team swabbed cubicles for traces of the white powder inside male toilets at games involving Celtic, Rangers, Hearts, Hibs, Aberdeen and Hamilton Accies.

Reporters obtained positive results of the illegal drug on each occasion.

Shameful scenes have blighted this season, with a series of ­incidents sparking safety fears.

(Image: Collect)

One high-profile match ­targeted by our investigators included this month’s Hibs v Rangers clash at Easter Road.

Gers captain James Tavernier was attacked by a spectator who came on to the touchline from the home section of the ground before half-time.

Graeme ­Pearson, once the head of the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency (SCDEA) and a ­former Labour justice spokesman, called for Police ­Scotland and clubs to crack down on their drug-taking fans.

(Image: Mark Anderson)

He said: “Clubs have the ­responsiblity to manage their toilets properly.

“Police need to assess their intelligence to find out the extent to which drug misuse is ongoing.

“The results from your tests seem to indicate it’s pretty ­prevalent.

“Cocaine use reduces users’ inhibitions and this could be a factor in pitch invasions.

“It’s unreasonable that decent fans have to suffer this kind of behaviour.”

The Scottish Lib Dems called for sniffer dogs to be deployed to detect cocaine at matches.

Their justice spokesman Liam ­McArthur said: “There’s no place for drugs at sporting events and antisocial behaviour spoils games for ­everyone.

“Clubs need to make serious efforts to stamp out violent behaviour that comes from a minority of fans but cast the whole sport in a bad light.

“I expect Police Scotland will be considering the deployment of sniffer dogs.”

The Sunday Mail’s ­investigation uncovered ­evidence that cocaine use is so widespread that it is being used in the family section toilets at the lower area of Celtic’s Lisbon Lions Stand.

(Image: Collect)

Our reporter wiped toilet areas using a drug-testing kit midway through last Saturday’s game against Aberdeen.

Positive results, which ­produce a blue dye, showed the ­substance was present on the surface of a toilet seat in an area where ­Celtic’s Green Brigade gather.

Young male fans left ­cubicles in pairs at about 3pm after ­apparently going in to snort drugs.

One openly held a small ­cellophane wrap of white powder as he stepped out. Stewards and police stood outside unaware of what was happening.

On Tuesday night, we tested the toilets in the Broomloan Road Stand at Ibrox while ­Rangers played Aberdeen in a Scottish Cup quarter-final replay.

(Image: Collect)

Two areas tested in the second half showed evidence of cocaine. Two men in their 20s entered a cubicle immediately after our reporter swabbed the site.

At Easter Road, a test on one toilet in the East Stand during Hibernian’s Premiership match against Rangers on March 8 revealed a significant trace of cocaine.

During that match, Rangers skipper Tavernier was attacked by Cameron Mack, who left the same stand to reach the player shortly before half-time.

The 21-year-old has been banned from every football ­stadium in Scotland after ­admitting breach of the peace.

(Image: SNS Group)

There is no indication that Mack had taken cocaine before the incident.

Five fans at the Easter Road match were arrested for alleged disorder offences.

The match took place six days after Celtic star Scott Sinclair escaped injury when a Buckfast bottle was thrown at him at the same ground.

At Edinburgh’s Tynecastle Park, swabs were used to test cubicles in the Wheatfield Stand during Hearts’ ­Premiership match against Celtic on ­Wednesday, February 27.

Traces of cocaine were found in two toilet roll ­dispensers.

Yesterday, our reporter swabbed a male toilet cubicle during Aberdeen’s match with Livingston at Pittodrie.

The test showed cocaine was present in the South Stand, which holds home fans.

Positive test results for cocaine were also obtained from toilets in the Main Stand and North Stand at Hamilton Accies’ Hope CDB Stadium during the team’s match against Hearts.

David Liddell, chief executive of Scottish Drugs Forum, a ­Scottish Government-funded addiction quango, said: ­“Drinking alcohol before the game and then using a stimulant like cocaine during the match is concerning.

(Image: Collect)

“Alcohol makes people who may otherwise only feel ­aggressive act more aggressively and some may become violent.

“On top of this, cocaine will give people a euphoric and ­energising rush. For some ­people in a football crowd, this may lead to trouble.”

Chief Superintendent John McKenzie, head of Police ­Scotland’s Football ­Coordination Unit for Scotland (FoCUS), said: “We do not have analytical evidence that ­demonstrates a link between football disorder and misuse of drugs but Police Scotland works closely with supporters’ groups and clubs to tackle any issues.”

Hearts refused to comment on our probe but a spokesman said yesterday: “Drug use is ­prohibited within the grounds of ­Tynecastle Park.

“The club’s policy is that ­anyone caught using drugs or in possession of drugs will be removed from the stadium and could face police action and a possible indefinite ban.”

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Hibs said they agreed with the Lib Dems and are planning to introduce sniffer dogs.

A spokesman said: “We can confirm the club is to approach Police Scotland to look at the possibility of deploying trained sniffer dogs to detect drugs and other prohibited items.

“We will be working with police and others to increase our ability to deter, detect and take action against those who are prepared to indulge in illegal or unacceptable conduct within our stadium. This will include, but not be restricted to, increased ­stewarding plus a CCTV system which will see our existing system enhanced and increase spot checks in ­‘vulnerable’ areas of the crowd.”

A Rangers spokesperson said: “We have been working with Police Scotland and will continue to do so to deal with this issue.”

An Aberdeen spokesperson said: “We operate a strict zero tolerance policy towards drugs. The use of drugs in Scotland is clearly not just a football issue but the club’s policy is clear and stringent and anyone caught in possession of drugs will be removed from the stadium and may face police action.”

Celtic refused to comment.

(Image: Sunday Mail)

Scottish football’s governing bodies, the SFA and the SPFL, met last week to discuss a plan to tackle the rise in hooliganism.

They hope to announce a raft of new proposals this month.

The SPFL said: “Whilst it’s primarily a criminal matter, clubs will undoubtedly join us in condemning such illegal and irresponsible behaviour.

“We will continue to work with clubs and Police ­Scotland to determine the best way ­forward to address this issue.”

The SFA did not provide a ­comment when approached.

Earlier this month, Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf said he would ­consider imposing strict liability on clubs unless they control fans better.

Clubs would then be held ­responsible for the actions of their fans. Sanctions include fines and closing the stadium.