Celtic fan group Bhoys Celtic have confirmed they will boycott the Premier Sports Cup derby clash against Rangers next month.
The organisation have blasted the SPFL for cutting Celtic’s allocation for the match by 500 tickets, a punishment handed to the club for the use of pyrotechnics.
Celtic were found in breach of SPFL regulations against the use of such devices last season when they faced Aberdeen and Rangers in the semi-final and final respectively.
Bhoys Celtic have branded the punishment ‘yet another draconian anti-football-fan move’ that sets a ‘dangerous precedent’ in Scottish football.
Bhoys Celtic to boycott Rangers semi-final in SPFL protest
The group say a solution to the pyrotechnics debate can only be found if ‘open dialogue with supporters’ is initiated with the SPFL.
Their hard-hitting statement posted on Instagram reads as follows: “Last year, the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) introduced yet another short-sighted anti-fan initiative in their, as of yet, unsuccessful attempt to limit the use of pyrotechnics in football stadiums in Scotland.
“This ‘disciplinary process’ involves cutting the ticketing allocation given to clubs with no clear reasoning or logic on which matches are affected.
“It has been confirmed that for our match against Rangers in the League Cup semi-final on the 2nd of November, both sets of fans will have their allocations cut by 500 tickets as ‘punishment’ for the use of pyrotechnics in various Premiership and League Cup matches.
“While there are differing views on the use of pyrotechnics in stadiums, it is our view that collective punishment of hundreds of fans, in all cases substantially more than those involved in the use of pyrotechnics is yet another draconian anti-football-fan move that damages the game in Scotland, and sets a dangerous precedent that we do not wish to normalise.
“This is particularly important as, rather than work in conjunction with supporters, the footballing authorities have instead introduced a punishment designed to have fans turn against each other. We maintain that draconian sanctions offer no long term solution to this perceived problem. As with all fan issues, this can only be found through positive engagement and open dialogue with supporters.
“As a result, we as a group will not be in attendance at the League Cup semi-final, despite, on this occasion, the ban not being enforced against our tickets. We refuse to entertain ‘business as usual’ while supporters of both clubs are unfairly penalised.”
What Brendan Rodgers thinks of pyro at football games
Celtic were hit with the punishment in March and a few days later, boss Brendan Rodgers was pressed to deliver his opinion on the use of pyro.
Rodgers said: “I have to say the group within our support base, they give us an amazing support. Like I said, the colour, everything that they bring is so good.
“I think it is something I have to say, I’m not going to be closed on my thinking on it either, because I know it is in other countries where it is accepted, and there is engagement there with supporters to have it.
“But I think normally over here in the UK we deem it as more dangerous than being a part of the colour of the games.
“I just think if it has a possibility to affect people’s health, and put them in any danger, then I just think there are other things we can do that can still create an amazing atmosphere.
“I’ve seen it so many times, what we can do without the pyro. But like I said, I, like the other people and many other people within the clubs, we just hope that we can have games that are safe, and that supporters can come and really support the team.”
Receive a digest of our best Celtic content each week direct to your mailbox
