Rangers face SPFL probe over pyrotechnics days after UEFA sanctions

Rangers face a new Scottish Professional Football League investigation into the use of pyrotechnics after supporters set off smoke bombs at Fir Park, the club said on Friday — coming days after UEFA fined the club and imposed a suspended sanction for a separate incident in Europe.

UEFA this week fined Rangers €20,000 and issued a suspended one-match ban on away ticket sales in European competition, which will be triggered if a similar incident occurs within the next two years. The sanction related to a pyrotechnic display among travelling supporters at last month’s 6-0 Champions League qualifier defeat to Club Brugge.

In a statement, Rangers confirmed that the SPFL had opened an inquiry into the use of smoke bombs by fans in the away end at the opening-day Premiership fixture at Motherwell, which ended 1-1. The club said it was in the process of responding to the investigation.

The statement also reiterated other ongoing disciplinary matters involving the club. Following pyrotechnic incidents at matches staged at Hampden Park last season, the SPFL will reduce Rangers’ ticket allocation by 500 for the next Premier Sports Cup semi‑final at Hampden. The league warned that any further pyrotechnic incidents at SPFL or Premier Sports Cup matches could prompt an additional reduction of 800 tickets. A suspended partial closure of the Copland Stand at Ibrox remains in place after a banner considered discriminatory was displayed during last season’s Europa League tie with Fenerbahce.

Rangers acknowledged the UEFA ruling and warned supporters of the safety risks pyrotechnics create for fans, players, stewards and emergency services. "It is clear that UEFA and domestic authorities are taking a firmer stance on the use of pyrotechnics and the unnecessary safety risks created for supporters, players, stewards, and emergency services," the club said.

The club added that fines divert resources and weaken the organisation, and said it had received requests from supporters to take action against those responsible. Rangers said it would review next steps internally and consult with fan groups, including the Fan Advisory Board, to ensure a fair and responsible outcome. "Ultimately, we all want the same thing, a strong Rangers, backed by a support that lifts the team and reflects the very best of who we are and what we stand for," the statement said.

UEFA’s fine and suspended sanction follow a pattern of sanctions across competitions for pyrotechnic use, with governing bodies signaling increased intolerance of flares and smoke displays that can endanger spectators and disrupt matches. UEFA’s disciplinary panel set the fine at €20,000 and attached the suspended away-ticket ban to the Club Brugge incident after reviewing video evidence and reports from match delegates.

Domestic penalties already imposed or threatened by the SPFL show a willingness to use ticket-allocation reductions and stand closures as deterrents. The reduction of 500 tickets at a major neutral-venue semi-final and the prospect of further cuts would directly affect travelling supporters and season-ticket holders who rely on those allocations, while a suspended closure of a stand at Ibrox could have larger operational and financial impacts if activated.

The governing bodies’ actions come as Rangers navigate both competitive challenges on the field and reputational and disciplinary issues off it. The club’s Champions League qualifier defeat at Club Brugge and subsequent scrutiny over fan behaviour have increased pressure on club officials to manage supporter conduct more tightly. Rangers said it would engage with fan groups to seek co-operation in preventing future incidents and to determine appropriate disciplinary responses where individuals or organised groups can be identified.

The SPFL has not set a public timetable for concluding its Motherwell inquiry. UEFA’s suspended sanction remains in effect for two years and will be applied if an equivalent breach is recorded in that period. Rangers now face parallel processes at European and domestic levels, with potential sporting and logistical consequences if further incidents occur.