ZeeboiCeltic, Rangers, and Motherwell have been charged by the SPFL for their fans’ use of pyrotechnics during the Premier Sports Cup semi-finals last month. The governing body has described the incidents at Hampden Park as “totally unacceptable.”
The matches saw widespread use of smoke bombs and flares, beginning with Celtic’s 6-0 demolition of Aberdeen, where Hoops supporters lit up the national stadium with pyrotechnic displays.
The following day, Rangers’ 2-1 victory over Motherwell was similarly marred by both sets of fans using illegal devices. These displays caused delays to both fixtures, prompting widespread criticism.
Celtic, in particular, are under increased scrutiny, having already been fined £16,700 by UEFA earlier this season for a similar offence during a match against Borussia Dortmund in Germany.
That incident also carried a suspended one-game away fan ban, heightening the club’s vulnerability to further sanctions.
SPFL Issues Formal Charges
The SPFL released a strongly worded statement addressing the incidents:
“The SPFL can today confirm Celtic, Motherwell, and Rangers have been charged with a breach of SPFL rules following the behaviour of their supporters at the Premier Sports Cup semi-finals.
“It was fantastic to have over 80,000 supporters attend last month’s semi-finals, however, the large-scale, organised and illegal pyrotechnics displays which were carried out by a small minority of supporters before the Celtic v Aberdeen and Motherwell v Rangers matches were totally unacceptable.
“This irresponsible behaviour by a minority of fans led to a 14-minute delay to Celtic v Aberdeen, a 5-minute delay to Motherwell v Rangers and caused significant inconvenience to thousands of fans at the game and to supporters watching worldwide.”
The SPFL reiterated the dangers posed by pyrotechnics, emphasizing their illegality and the risks to health and safety. They confirmed that all three clubs had been issued formal notices of complaint under SPFL Rule H34, with disciplinary hearings set to follow.
Preparations for the Final
The statement also addressed preparations for the Premier Sports Cup Final between Celtic and Rangers, scheduled for next week at Hampden Park.
The SPFL is working with both clubs and Police Scotland to ensure a safe and enjoyable atmosphere for fans, especially given the ongoing disciplinary process.
The governing body made clear its commitment to tackling illegal behaviour at matches, while warning that stricter measures could be imposed if such incidents continue.
For now, Celtic, Rangers, and Motherwell await their hearings as the SPFL seeks to restore order ahead of one of the season’s marquee events.
Zeeboi
