UEFA fines Rangers and issues suspended away-ticket ban after fireworks at Club Brugge
Governing body imposes £17,291 fine and a one-game suspended sanction as the club faces heightened risk of further European penalties
UEFA has fined Rangers £17,291 and imposed a one-game suspended sanction that could prevent the Scottish club from selling tickets to away supporters after fans lit fireworks during the second leg of the Champions League qualifying play-off at Club Brugge.
The disciplinary measure, announced on Sept. 10, 2025, carries a probationary period of two years during which the away-ticket restriction is suspended. UEFA’s decision says the measure could be activated ‘‘from selling tickets to its away supporters for the next UEFA competition match’’ if further breaches occur during the probationary period.
Rangers will compete in the Europa League group stage this season and host Genk in their opening group match. The sanction follows the fireworks incident in Belgium during the club’s play-off defeat to Club Brugge, and comes amid a string of recent disciplinary issues involving the Ibrox club and its supporters.
Earlier this year UEFA issued a suspended closure of the Copland Stand at Ibrox — which holds about 8,000 supporters — after a banner described by governing authorities as racist and discriminatory was flown during a Europa League match against Fenerbahce. The club said in March it was "in the process of issuing lifetime bans" to those responsible for the banner. For that incident Rangers were fined roughly £25,000 and received additional penalties of about £5,000 for blocked passageways and £3,755 for the throwing of objects.
Under the terms of the Copland Stand suspension, UEFA said the stand would be closed for one game if there is "a repeat of racist and/or discriminatory behaviour" during European matches within the next 18 months. Combined with the newly announced suspended away-ticket sanction, the club is now under close scrutiny and would face escalation of penalties should further crowd or stadium offences be recorded.
Rangers have not been formally prevented from taking part in European competition by this latest decision, but UEFA’s measures underscore the governing body’s increased willingness to levy both financial penalties and match-related sanctions tied to supporter conduct. The club will begin its Europa League programme this month and must now manage supporter behaviour closely while under UEFA probation to avoid activation of the imposed restrictions.
Club officials previously said they were cooperating with authorities and taking steps to identify and ban individuals responsible for recent incidents. UEFA disciplinary rulings are part of a broader effort by European football’s governing body to deter pyrotechnics, discriminatory displays and stadium safety breaches, using fines, match-day restrictions and stadium closures as enforcement tools.
The fine and suspended sanction were issued after UEFA’s disciplinary panel reviewed reports and evidence from the Brugge match. Rangers declined further comment at the time of publication; UEFA’s written decision outlined the fines and the conditions of the suspended measures.
With the club entering the Europa League group stage, the prospect of an activated sanction would have immediate practical consequences for supporters and matchday arrangements, particularly for away fixtures. Any repeat offences during UEFA competitions could prompt the governing body to remove the suspension and apply the ticketing restriction or other sanctions outlined in its decision.