Craig Brown last night warned Aberdeen supporters that any hate campaign against new skipper Richard Foster could see them dragged into court.
The Dons boss believes the details of proposed new anti-sectarian laws need clarified after his defender, who spent six months on loan at Rangers last season, was barracked during Wednesday night's 2-1 friendly defeat to Bochum in Germany.
Two fans have been identified by the club for hurling foulmouthed abuse at the player with shouts of, "f*** o** back to Ibrox, you Hun" being clearly heard before Foster was involved in several ugly spats with the supporters.
But Brown believes the police could be watching at Pittodrie after the question over what constitutes a hate-crime becomes an issue weeks before the season begins.
The historic bad blood between Rangers and Aberdeen did little to help Foster ease back into action with the Dons boss insisting any ill-feeling is harboured among only a minority of the support.
And Brown has urged fans to get behind Foster just as they did for their hero and former Rangers player Sir Alex Ferguson.
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