Child charged and probe launched after pyrotechnic use at St Johnstone v Aberdeen match in Perth

Police have launched an investigation into the use of pyrotechnic flares at the weekend’s Scottish Premiership match between St Johnstone and Aberdeen.

Officers are carrying out enquiries after the devices were used during the Perth side’s 1-0 defeat at McDiarmid Park on Saturday.

One St Johnstone fan said a flare hit a family of five sitting in the front row of one of the stadium’s stands.

Blair Kaylor told STV News he enjoys pyrotechnics when used “safely and properly” but that one flare landed next to children aged around six or seven years old.

Morons throwing their pyro, one of which landed in the front row hitting a family of five, the three children couldn’t have been any older than 6/7 year old. https://t.co/tqQVlF77rf
— Blair Kaylor (@BlairKaylor) April 2, 2023

There were no reported injuries following the alleged incident and it was not directly escalated to Police Scotland.

Enquiries were made by the club safety officer and police conducted a review of stadium CCTV but nobody was identified as responsible.

Separately on Saturday, a teenage boy was charged in connection with possessing a pyrotechnic outside the stadium.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Officers are carrying out enquiries into the use of pyrotechnics in the crowd at McDiarmid Park, Perth, on Saturday, April 1, 2023.

“A 14-year-old male youth was charged in connection with the possession of a pyrotechnic outside the stadium. A report will be submitted to the Scottish Children’s Reporter.”

Both Aberdeen and St Johnstone have been contacted for comment.