Rangers have been punished with 500 Gers fans facing a Hampden lock-out for the use of pyrotechnics at the Premier Sports Cup Final v Celtic.
Rangers have also received another suspended punishment from the SPFL after supporters used pyrotechnics at the Premier Sports Cup semi-final against Motherwell.
This could see a further 800 fans locked out of another Premier Sports Cup fixture at the National Stadium.
The Ibrox side aren’t the only club to be punished either, with Old Firm rivals Celtic receiving the exact same sentence for their fans using pyrotechnics at the Premier Sports Cup semi-final against Aberdeen and in the Final against Rangers.
Motherwell FC have also received a suspended sentence for their own supporters using pyrotechnics against Rangers at Hampden.
Rangers, Celtic, Motherwell & pyrotechnics ban
Rangers, Celtic and Motherwell have all been found to have been in breach of SPFL Rule H34 which deals with the conduct of supporters.
This comes after an independent Disciplinary Commission brought together cases against all three clubs following what the SPFL describes as ‘large-scale, organised and illegal pyrotechnics displays’.
Three of this year’s semi-finalists have been able to provide a robust enough defence with the SPFL now coming down hard on the use of flares inside stadiums.
The 500 fan ban will impact Rangers’ next Premier Sports Cup clash at Hampden whilst the suspended 800 match ban will follow if the club breaches SPFL Rule H34 with regards to pyrotechnics again.
This will come into effect immediately if Rangers fans breach pyrotechnics rules in any SPFL competition before 30th March 2027, a period of over two years.
SPFL competition is defined by the SPFL as the William Hill Premiership, League Cup (currently known as the Premier Sports Cup) and Challenge Cup (currently known as the SPFL Trust Trophy).
On top of that, the commission found that Rangers, Celtic and Motherwell had failed to take ‘proportionate disciplinary measures’ against those who committed the offences.
The news comes after Rangers were charged by the SPFL back in December amid much criticism of the use of pyrotechnics around European football.
Clement warned fans after Rangers were charged by UEFA for the use pyrotechnics against Malmö whilst John Gilligan took aim at pyrotechnics during his time as interim Rangers chairman.
What is SPFL Rule H34?
SPFL Rule H34 states that:
H34 Each Club must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that:
H34.1 its Players, officials, supporters and any person exercising a function for or connected with the Club do not engage in Unacceptable Conduct at a Stadium on the occasion of an Official Match;
H34.2 it identifies any of its supporters who engage in Unacceptable Conduct at an Official Match; and
H34.3 it takes proportionate disciplinary measures in respect of supporters so identified in terms of Rule H34.2.
SPFL comes down hard on Rangers for pyrotechnics
Here’s what the SPFL had to say:
”The SPFL has confirmed that Celtic, Motherwell and Rangers have been found in breach of SPFL rules following separate disciplinary hearings into the behaviour of the clubs’ supporters at this season’s Premier Sports Cup semi-finals and final.
“Proceedings into large-scale, organised and illegal pyrotechnics displays at Celtic v Aberdeen and Rangers v Motherwell in November, and Celtic v Rangers in December, were undertaken by an independent Disciplinary Commission and have now concluded.
”All three clubs have been found to have breached SPFL Rule H34 in failing to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, that their supporters did not engage in ‘unacceptable conduct’ at those matches.
“The clubs were also found to have failed to identify or take proportionate disciplinary measures against the supporters responsible for the pyrotechnic displays.
”These displays led to a 14-minute delay to Celtic v Aberdeen, a five-minute delay to Motherwell v Rangers, a 3-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.”
Rangers receive SPFL charge
Here’s what the official SPFL charge reads:
“The Commission found Rangers to have breached SPFL Rule H34 in respect of both the semi-final and final of the Premier Sports Cup:
”In respect of the breach regarding the semi-final of the Premier Sports Cup the following sanction was imposed:
“(i) A suspended sanction of a reduction of 800 tickets for a future Premier Sports Cup match to be played at Hampden Park in the event of another breach of SPFL Rule H34 through pyrotechnic use by supporters of the Club in any SPFL competition before 30 March 2027.
”(ii) An immediate reduction of 500 tickets for the next Premier Sports Cup match to be played at Hampden Park.”
Rangers respond to SPFL pyrotechnics charge
Rangers have also wasted no time responding to supporters via a statement on the club’s website.
The Gers have once again reiterated their frustration at the use of ‘illegal’ pyrotechnics adding that continued use will see supporters ‘deprived’ of the opportunity to support the team.
“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,” reads a Rangers statement.
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.”
