Celtic and Scotland striker Leigh Griffiths made a brief appearance at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today to answer a charge of singing a song with offensive lyrics about former Hearts player Rudi Skacel.

Solicitor Advocate, Liam O’Donnell, told Sheriff James Scott that his client was pleading guilty to the charge.

Sheriff Scott asked: “Are you pleading guilty to the charge?” and the 25-year old footballer replied: “Yes”.

Fiscal Depute, Faith Miller, said police officers were on duty in Roseburn Terrace at around 10 am on Sunday, March 30, before the Scottish Premier League game between the two Edinburgh clubs.

A large number of Hibs fans had gathered waiting for the opening of the Roseburn Bar. Ms Miller said the fans began singing a song about Skacel to the tune of the Beatles “Yellow Submarine”.

The song contained the lyrics that Skacel was “a f****** refugee”.

The Fiscal told Sheriff Scott it was “a well-known Hibs song” and Griffiths was seen joining in.

When the Roseburn Bar opened, the Hibs fans inside began singing the song again.

The Fiscal said that the following Sunday, April 6, a newspaper printed a picture of Griffiths, a Hibs fan, standing on a chair in the pub, singing along with the other supporters.

Mr O’Donnell said his client apologised unreservedly for his actions.

In the 18 months since then, the lawyer said his client had not been in trouble.

He added that Griffiths had been fined four weeks wages for being involved in the incident.