A SUPPORTER as young as ELEVEN has been handed a ban from attending home matches involving Dunfermline Athletic.

Several fans were handed the punishment following a recent match at KDM Group East End Park, which saw objects thrown at match officials and visiting players.

The incidents came to light ahead of Monday's New Year clash with the Pars' bitter rivals, Falkirk, before which the football club issued a supporter update.

Prior to the game with the Bairns, which Dunfermline said would be a "great opportunity to showcase our fantastic DAFC support in the right light", they thanked "all of its supporters who follow the team with pride home and away", noting that it "makes a significant difference to the players and staff".

However, they went on to highlight incidents at last month's home game with Queen of the South – which ended in a 1-1 draw – that has resulted in some fans receiving bans from attending home matches for the remainder of the current season.

The club said: "DAFC continues to thank all of its supporters who follow the team with pride home and away. Your support makes a significant difference to the players and staff.

"However, there were a number of incidents at our recent home game versus Queen of the South, which have resulted in the club issuing season-long bans to several supporters for throwing objects (coins, lighters, vapes, etc) at match officials and visiting players. Indeed, one supporter who has been banned was only 11 years of age. Police are also involved with these incidents.

"Along with the throwing of objects, a small section of the support continues to breach ground regulations including entering the field of play and bringing pyrotechnics and smoke bombs into the stadium. This not only raises concerns from police and other authorities, but also increases risks of further action being taken against the club."

Monday's fixture, as was the case when the teams met in November at the Falkirk Stadium, a game Dunfermline won 1-0, was deemed as "high risk" by Police Scotland, resulting in a significant presence of officers at the stadium, and in the city centre, before and after the match.

Last week, the Press reported that 13 men had been reported to the procurator fiscal following clashes between rival fans before Dunfermline and Falkirk met at East End in September.

Police were called after disorder in the Kirkgate area of the city centre at around 11.15am involving groups of football fans.

Police Scotland said that there were no reports of injuries or damage to property, and that a report was submitted to the procurator fiscal, while officers were also seeking football banning orders.