'Nobody has cracked how to deal with pyro'

Scottish FA chief executive Ian Maxwell admits "nobody has quite cracked" how to deal with pyrotechnics at football matches amid his desire to "eradicate" them.

Celtic, Motherwell and Rangers are were already under SPFL investigation for displays that delayed the kick-offs at the Premier Sports Cup semi-finals, before a repeat in Sunday's final between the Glasgow duo.

Maxwell says the Scottish FA will look to its own rulebook to tackle the issue should it happen again during its own Scottish Cup fixtures.

But he told BBC Scotland: "We can't just pin it on the clubs. It is a worldwide football problem. Everybody we speak to at Uefa is dealing with the same issues.

"Nobody has quite cracked how to deal with it yet, but it's incumbent on ourselves, SPFL, Scottish Government, Police Scotland, to work together to try and find a solution, because it's on the increase and it's definitely unwelcome in Scottish football and we need to try and eradicate it."

Maxwell admits "it is difficult to stop" fans bringing pyro into grounds but says "everybody can do better" as the displays are detrimental to the game.

He pointed out that the Scottish FA has to work within its own rulebook, which falls short of the strict liability clubs face under world governing body Fifa.

"The vast majority of people don't want them at matches," he said. "Fundamentally, they are unsafe and have a negative impact on people watching the game.

"We're seeing kick-offs delayed. We are seeing numbers of people have to leave the stadium because of breathing difficulties.

"We're now getting feedback from players about how much they are feeling it from the impact that it's having on them."

Asked about sectarian chanting at Sunday's final at Hampden and reports of Rangers and Celtic ultras clashing in Glasgow, Maxwell said: "Obviously, the disorder we saw at the weekend is unacceptable.

"Primarily we will talk about inside the stadium, because that's the bit that we've got more control over."