I was caught up in shocking football fan violence as rival supporters from Scottish clubs battled – I was nearly bottled

Scottish Sun

30-05-2025

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A LABOURER is telling us about the moment he was nearly hit with a glass bottle as violence erupted before the Scottish Premiership play-off final.
Kenan Widdows, 24, was walking through the usually quiet town of Dingwall, when he came across a large group of youths near the train station.
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Kenan Widdows was caught up in the carnage in Dingwall
Credit: Kenan Widdows
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Ross County and Livingston fans fight
Credit: Kenan Widdows
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Kenan is a former World and European champion piper
Credit: Kenan Widdows
It was ahead of the second-leg clash between Ross County and Livingston, and came after a spitting incident in the first leg.
At first, Kenan said it was fairly jovial as fans congregated ahead of Monday's big game.
But then "chaos ensued" and he thinks around 100 youths started squaring up.
Kenan, from Invergordon, says it quickly got nasty as other innocent by-standers got caught up in the melee.
He told SunSport: "There were boys that were smacked over the head with flagpoles.
"There were glass bottles being thrown - one just went right over my head and smashed at my feet.
"I was a bit shocked, and relieved it didn't hit me.
"It could have cracked my head open if it had.
"There were a few people trying to stop it, but they couldn't get through to the young ones fighting.
"They are lucky no one was hurt, with bottles being thrown and glass being smashed.
"It was careless, they had no consideration for anyone around them."
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Kenan was so stunned by the scenes unfolding in front of him, he had to get his phone out to capture the carnage.
He says the video has gone viral with almost a million views on TikTok.
But the former World and European champion piper says he would have acted differently if his young son had been by his side, and is relieved he wasn't.
He said: "I was half expecting to be swung at, but I think all the youths made the wise decision not to do that!
"It was quite intense. It was very violent initially and then it simmered down after a few minutes.
"It was mental to see it.
"There was one boy who took a good whack to the head. I found him afterwards and made sure he was okay.
"Boys from both sides of the fight were really lucky nobody was hurt considering the weapons being used and glass bottles being thrown.
"I'm very lucky my son wasn't there, obviously, if he was I wouldn't have been anywhere near it.
"I'm in Dingwall quite frequently and it's not something I've seen before, it's not something that happens.
"I do feel like the travelling fans were instigating it - they were the only ones that had weapons, the Ross County fans were using their fists.
"It was just a bit chaotic for a Monday evening!"
Police Scotland confirmed to the Scottish Sun that they were aware of the incident.
A police spokesperson said: 'Around 8.10pm on Monday, 26 May, 2025, we received a report of a disturbance on High Street, Dingwall.
'The group dispersed, and no injuries were reported.
'Enquiries are ongoing.'
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