Old Firm Hampden tickets cut by 500 after pyro use

The Premier Sports Cup final took place in December

The Old Firm will have their ticket allocations for their next Scottish League Cup game at Hampden reduced as punishment after pyrotechnics were let off by supporters during this season's past four matches.

Celtic and Rangers - along with Motherwell - were charged by the SPFL after both semi-finals at the national stadium were disrupted by the use of flares.

There was also widespread use of pyrotechnics at the final between Celtic and Rangers in December.

An independent panel, convened in February, found the trio guilty and has ordered that 500 tickets be removed from each club's allocation, with a further deduction should there be future incidents.

Motherwell have been given a suspended sentence due to the fact they were only found to be in breach on one occasion, with Celtic and Rangers receiving suspended bans in addition to their immediate suspension.

The SPFL say a "suspended sanction of a reduction of 800 tickets for a future Premier Sports Cup match to be played at Hampden Park" will be imposed" in the event of another breach of SPFL Rule H34 through pyrotechnic use by supporters of the cub in any SPFL competition before 30 March 2027". This applies to Celtic, Rangers and Motherwell.

How did we reach this stage?

The SPFL's independent panel found all three clubs in breach of rule H.34 – failing to ensure, where reasonably practicable, that fans did not engage in unacceptable conduct.

If fans of either Celtic or Rangers breach the rules again, 800 fans will be locked out for the next game at Hampden.

Celtic's semi-final with Aberdeen in November was delayed by 15 minutes after fans of the Glasgow club set off flares.

Kick-off was also delayed in the game between Rangers and Motherwell the following day.

The widespread use of pyrotechnics during the Old Firm final was also added to the charges against the Glasgow duo.

What is the situation with pyro?

The use of pyrotechnics inside stadiums in Scotland has been illegal since 2023.

Rangers and Celtic have been issued with fines in recent years after incidents at matches in Europe, and Celtic were also warned by Uefa that fans would face a travel ban if they continued to breach the rules.

The football authorities are also working closely with the Scottish government to push for more football banning orders for those charged with pyrotechnic offences.

Football banning orders prevent individuals from attending any match in the UK.

Rangers said in a statement: "Rangers notes the statement from the SPFL and the sanction imposed on the club following the use of pyrotechnics at Premier Sports Cup fixtures earlier this season

"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.

"Rangers again reiterates that pyrotechnic use is illegal, and will now deprive Rangers supporters the opportunity to back their team in a key match."

Minister for victims and community safety Siobhian Brown commented: "We welcome the actions of the SPFL in sending a clear message that this is an issue that needs tackled.

"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."

Celtic and Motherwell have been approached for comment.