Scottish Professional Football League Disciplines Clubs for Pyrotechnic Incidents
Aberdeen, Celtic, and Partick Thistle have been sanctioned by the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) due to their fans' use of pyrotechnics at the conclusion of the last season.
The two Premiership clubs, Aberdeen and Celtic, will face a reduction of 200 fans in attendance for any future incidents of what the league deems "unacceptable conduct." Meanwhile, Championship club Partick Thistle risks stand closure following a similar display that was accompanied by a pitch invasion.
This action follows a league investigation into "large-scale, organized, and illegal pyrotechnic displays" during matches involving Aberdeen and Celtic, Celtic against St Mirren, and Ayr United versus Partick Thistle.
According to a statement from the SPFL, "All three clubs have been found to have breached SPFL rules by failing to ensure, as far as reasonably practicable, that their supporters did not engage in unacceptable conduct during those matches." The league also noted that the clubs did not adequately identify or impose appropriate disciplinary measures against the fans responsible for the pyrotechnic displays. In the case of Partick Thistle, this included failing to address the actions of those who invaded the pitch.
The pitch invasion caused a two-minute delay during the Premiership play-off quarter-final second leg at Somerset Park on May 9, while a similar interruption occurred due to Thistle fans using pyrotechnics and throwing them onto the pitch. The pyrotechnic display by Aberdeen fans during their match against Celtic on May 14 led Sky Sports to issue an apology for broadcast interruptions caused by significant smoke clouds within the stadium.
Celtic supporters also engaged in pyrotechnic displays in the north-east corner of Celtic Park during and prior to their final league match at home against St Mirren on May 17.
The SPFL emphasized that these incidents posed health and safety risks to fellow supporters, players, and match staff, as well as causing considerable inconvenience to thousands of fans attending the matches and those watching from home.