The SPFL has confirmed that Aberdeen, Celtic and Partick Thistle have been found to be in breach of SPFL rules following the behaviour of the clubs’ supporters at matches towards the end of season 2024/25.
Proceedings into large-scale, organised and illegal pyrotechnic displays at three separate matches in May last season - Aberdeen v Celtic, Celtic v St Mirren and Ayr United v Partick Thistle - have now concluded.
Partick Thistle’s rule breach also focused on a large-scale pitch invasion from the club’s fans, which led to a two-minute delay later in the same match at Somerset Park.
All three clubs have been found to have breached SPFL Rules 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 or take proportionate disciplinary measures against the supporters responsible for the pyrotechnic displays, and in Partick Thistle’s case, also against those who carried out the pitch invasion.
The pyrotechnics display by Aberdeen fans during the club’s game against Celtic, live on Sky Sports, at Pittodrie on May 14 led to the broadcaster having to issue an apology for interruptions to the broadcast following the display, which caused significant smoke clouds to form within the stadium.
Celtic supporters carried out pyrotechnic displays in the north-east corner of Celtic Park, during and prior to the final league game of the season at home to St Mirren on May 17.
And lastly in a William Hill Premiership playoff quarter final second-leg at Somerset Park on May 9, a two-minute delay to the game occurred due to Partick Thistle fans using pyrotechnics and throwing them onto the pitch. A further two-minute delay occurred later in the match following the large-scale pitch incursion.
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 were found to have breached SPFL Rules H36 and H37 in respect of the William Hill Premiership match involving Aberdeen v Celtic and the following sanction was imposed:
- A suspended reduction of 200 tickets in the area of the stadium where the display took place for one future match in SPFL competitions at Pittodrie Stadium, to be triggered in the event of another breach of SPFL Rules H36 and/or H37 through pyrotechnic use by supporters of the Club in that area of the stadium in any SPFL competition on, or before, 30 June 2026.
Celtic:
Celtic were found to have breached SPFL Rules H36 and H37 in respect of the William Hill Premiership match involving Celtic v St Mirren and the following sanction was imposed:
- A suspended reduction of 200 tickets in the area of the stadium where the display took place for one future match in SPFL competitions at Celtic Park, to be triggered in the event of another breach of SPFL Rules H36 and/or H37 through pyrotechnic use by supporters of the Club in that area of the stadium in any SPFL competition on, or before, 30 June 2026.
Partick Thistle:
Partick Thistle were found to have breached SPFL Rule H37 in respect of two separate serious incidents during the William Hill Premiership playoff quarter final second leg involving Ayr United v Partick Thistle and the following sanction was imposed:
- A suspended sanction of the closure of a Stand and/or area(s) of the Wyre Stadium at Firhill for one future match in SPFL competitions, to be triggered in the event of another breach of SPFL Rule H37 through pyrotechnic use or pitch invasion by supporters of the Club at the Wyre Stadium at Firhill in any SPFL competition on, or before, 30 June 2026. The relevant Stand and/or area(s) to be closed will be the area where the behaviour that causes a further breach of SPFL Rule H37 comes from.
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