Rangers insist pyro must stop as Aberdeen, Hibs and Motherwell also punished by SPFL

Rangers have warned fans that the use of pyrotechnics at matches “must stop” after they were among four clubs punished by the SPFL over supporter behaviour.

The league body confirmed action had been taken against the Ibrox club, Motherwell, Hibernian and Aberdeen over a number of incidents, including two games where children were injured after flares were lit.

Rangers and Motherwell were both hit with a reduction to their allocation for away games in February of 50 tickets each, with a warning that the reduction would be doubled for future games in the event of further rule breaches. Both clubs will have to pay the host teams for the games, Hibernian and Dundee, the cost of the tickets, which is estimated at around £1,500-£2,000 per club.

Aberdeen and Hibernian were handed a suspended sanction, with a 50-ticket allocation reduction to be applied in the case of any further pyro use this year.

The SPFL said that each of the games it investigated – Dundee v Aberdeen, Falkirk v Motherwell, Motherwell v Hibernian, Kilmarnock v Rangers and Rangers v Motherwell – had involved “large-scale and organised” use of illegal pyrotechnics, which “caused 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 these games at home”.

Rangers issued a statement warning fans that behaviour had to change, pointing out not only the safety risk and SPFL sanctions but also similar sanctions that have been applied by UEFA at a European level.

Stating that the ticket reduction will be applied with “accountability and fairness”, the club called for an end in the use of pyrotechnics.

“The position on pyrotechnics is clear,” the statement read. “Beyond the obvious safety risks they pose to supporters, incidents of this nature are now leading to increasingly firm action from football authorities, with sanctions being applied across more than one competition.

“Rangers is one of several SPFL clubs to have been sanctioned today as a result of recent pyrotechnic use.

“In addition, Rangers remains subject to a suspended one-match ban on away ticket sales in European competition, which would be triggered if a similar incident occurs within the next two years in UEFA competitions.

“In simple terms, to avoid further, escalating sanctions, the use of pyrotechnics at our games must stop.

“As the season enters a crucial stage, the backing of our supporters away from home will be more important than ever. Having as many Rangers fans as possible there to support the team can make a real difference, and we want that support to be vocal, united and safe for everyone.”

SPFL statement in full

Pyrotechnics at a Dundee v Aberdeen game caused caused a burn injury to a child as well as respiratory issues for another supporter. SNS Group

“The SPFL has confirmed that Aberdeen, Hibernian, Motherwell and Rangers have been found to be in breach of SPFL rules following disciplinary proceedings into the behaviour of the clubs’ supporters at matches in season 2025/26.

“Proceedings into large-scale, organised and illegal pyrotechnics displays at five separate matches in November and December this season – Dundee v Aberdeen, Falkirk v Motherwell, Motherwell v Hibernian, Kilmarnock v Rangers and Rangers v Motherwell – have now concluded.

All four clubs were found to have breached SPFL Rule H37 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 and/or take proportionate disciplinary measures against the supporters responsible for the pyrotechnic displays.

“The pyrotechnics display by Aberdeen fans prior to the club’s 3-1 win away against Dundee on December 6 at Dens Park led to damage to the Dens Park pitch and caused a burn injury to a child as well as respiratory issues for another supporter.

“Hibernian supporters carried out a pyrotechnics display in the club’s 2-0 loss against Motherwell at Fir Park on November 25, with the devices then being thrown towards players and staff of the home club.

“Motherwell supporters carried out two separate pyrotechnics displays in their matches against Falkirk on December 3 and Rangers on December 27, with around 20 devices being activated in each display.

“And lastly Rangers fans had a large-scale, choreographed pyrotechnic display during the club’s 3-0 win away at Kilmarnock’s Rugby Park on December 6, which resulted in an injury to a child.

“As can be seen from the detail provided above, these incidents caused 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 these games at home.”

Aberdeen:

Aberdeen was found to have breached SPFL Rule H37 in respect of the William Hill Premiership match involving Dundee v Aberdeen and the following sanction was imposed:

A suspended reduction of 50 tickets for a future away match in an SPFL competition, to be triggered in the event of another rule breach of SPFL Rule H37 through pyrotechnic use by the club’s supporters at an away match in any SPFL competition, on or before June 30, 2026. If this sanction is triggered, the club will be required to pay the costs for these 50 tickets to the home club for the relevant match.

Hibernian:

Hibernian was found to have breached SPFL Rule H37 in respect of the William Hill Premiership match involving Motherwell v Hibernian and the following sanction was imposed:

A suspended reduction of 50 tickets for a future away match in an SPFL competition, to be triggered in the event of another rule breach of SPFL Rule H37 through pyrotechnic use by the club’s supporters at an away match in any SPFL competition, on or before June 30, 2026. If this sanction is triggered, the club will be required to pay the costs for these 50 tickets to the home club for the relevant match.

Motherwell

Motherwell was found to have breached SPFL Rule H37 in respect of the William Hill Premiership matches involving Falkirk v Motherwell and Rangers v Motherwell and the following sanctions were imposed:

An immediate reduction of 50 tickets for the club’s supporters for the Dundee v Motherwell match in the William Hill Premiership on Wednesday February 4, 2026. The club is required to pay the cost of 50 tickets to Dundee as part of this sanction.
A suspended reduction of 100 tickets for a future away match in an SPFL competition, to be triggered in the event of another rule breach of SPFL Rule H37 through pyrotechnic use by the club’s supporters at an away match in any SPFL competition, on or before June 30, 2026. If this sanction is triggered, the club will be required to pay the costs for these 100 tickets to the home club for the relevant match.

Rangers

Rangers was found to have breached SPFL Rule H37 in respect of the William Hill Premiership match involving Kilmarnock v Rangers and the following sanctions were imposed:

The suspended sanction handed down on October 14, 2025 in relation to a pyrotechnic display at the Motherwell v Rangers match is triggered. The club receives an immediate reduction of 50 tickets for the club’s supporters for the Hibernian v Rangers match in the William Hill Premiership on Sunday, February 1 2026. The club is required to pay the cost of 50 tickets to Hibernian as part of this sanction.
A suspended reduction of 100 tickets for a future away match in an SPFL competition, to be triggered in the event of another rule breach of SPFL Rule H37 through pyrotechnic use by the club’s supporters at an away match in any SPFL competition, on or before June 30, 2026. If this sanction is triggered, the club will be required to pay the costs for these 100 tickets to the home club for the relevant match.