Cut to Rangers and Celtic cup ticket allocations after fans let off pyrotechnics

Celtic and Rangers football clubs have had their ticket allocations cut for their next Scottish League Cup games at the national stadium after fans let off pyrotechnics.

The two Glasgow clubs, along with Motherwell, faced disciplinary hearings following “large-scale, organised and illegal pyrotechnics displays” by fans during fixtures in last year’s Premier Sports Cup (PSC) competition.

The incidents occurred at the Celtic v Aberdeen and Rangers v Motherwell semi-finals in November, and the final between Celtic and Rangers in December.

The Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) issued a statement on Wednesday saying all three clubs had breached SPFL rules by “failing to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, that their supporters did not engage in ‘unacceptable conduct’ at those matches”.

The statement went on: “The clubs were also found to have failed to identify or take proportionate disciplinary measures against the supporters responsible for the pyrotechnic displays.

“The displays led to a 14-minute delay to Celtic v Aberdeen, a five-minute delay to Motherwell v Rangers, a three-minute delay to the Premier Sports Cup final; a health and safety risk to fellow supporters, players and those working at matches; as well as a significant inconvenience to thousands of supporters at the matches and fans watching worldwide.”

Celtic and Rangers have both been hit with an “immediate reduction of 500 tickets for the next PSC match to be played at Hampden Park” as a result of their rule breach in the final.

Meanwhile all three clubs were given a “suspended sanction” of a reduction of 800 tickets for a future PSC match to be played at Hampden Park, for their fans’ behaviour in the semi-finals.

The suspended sanction will be “triggered” in the event of a further “illegal and organised pyrotechnic display” in any SPFL competition before March 30 2027, which would come on top of any sanction imposed for the new breach.

In a statement Rangers FC said: “The club has been consistently clear that the use of pyrotechnics at our matches in any competition is unacceptable and could lead to sanctions.

“This has now come to pass with 500 of our supporters to be locked out of a Premier Sports Cup tie at Hampden the next time the club reaches the latter stages of that competition.

“A repeat use at any future SPFL (Premiership or League Cup) game will lead to even more supporters – the vast majority of whom will not have used pyrotechnics – being unable to attend a future semi-final or final tie in the Premier Sports Cup at the National Stadium.”

Motherwell FC said: “We acknowledge the suspended sentence from the SPFL concerning the use of pyrotechnics prior to our Premier Sports semi-final against Rangers.

“The club reiterates that pyrotechnics are illegal within football stadiums and are dangerous.”

Celtic FC also put out a statement saying the SPFL ruling should act as a “wake-up call”.

“Clearly, it is hugely disappointing that our wider support will be negatively affected at future SPFL League Cup matches at Hampden following the actions of a small minority,” the statement read.

It added: “The club has been very clear that the use of fireworks and pyrotechnics at matches is illegal, and presents risks to supporter safety and to the club under the applicable regulations.

“The fact that the use of pyrotechnics by a small minority is now adversely affecting the attendance of our supporters at matches should act as a very serious wake-up call to those involved.”

Scottish Government Secretary for Victims and Community Safety Siobhian Brown said she welcomed the sanctions brought against the three clubs.

“We welcome the actions of the SPFL in sending a clear message that this is an issue that needs tackled,” she said.

“It is a criminal offence to take or to use pyrotechnics in football stadiums. We continue to work with Police Scotland and football authorities to tackle this issue.

“As well as being illegal, pyrotechnics can cause serious injury and can spoil the enjoyment of games for the vast majority of fans.”