Why Rangers are set to escape SPFL disciplinary action…

Why Rangers are set to escape SPFL disciplinary action after Celtic Park fan flares

RANGERS look set to escape punishment from the SPFL despite the flares their fans set off at Parkhead yesterday afternoon.

Celtic, Motherwell and Rangers were all found to have breached SPFL Rule H34 earlier this month when the findings of an independent investigation into the Premier Sports Cup semi-finals and final at Hampden last year.

All three clubs were hit with punishments by the governing body for failing to prevent their supporters from staging “large-scale, organised and illegal” pyrotechnic displays in those matches – or for taking proportionate disciplinary action against those responsible afterwards.

Celtic and Rangers were both told their allocation of tickets for their next League Cup game at Hampden would be cut by 500.

But they were all also hit with a suspended sanction and told there would receive 800 fewer tickets for a Premier Sports Cup game at Hampden if there was another breach of Rule H34 by their fans in any SPFL competition before March 30, 2027.

Flares were ignited in the away section at Parkhead yesterday after Barry Ferguson’s side had recorded a surprise 3-2 victory over Brendan Rodgers’ team in a William Hill Premiership game.

However, the Ibrox club are unlikely to trigger the suspended sanction because it was not considered to be an “organised pyrotechnic display”.

(Image: PA) Rangers urged their fans not to set off flares, smoke bombs, strobes and rockets in the stands at games after they were hit with the SPFL disciplinary action earlier this month.

A statement read: “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."

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