![Interim Rangers chairman John Gilligan [credit: Rangers Football Club (Official) on YouTube]](http://media.assettype.com/ibroxnews%2Fimport%2Fstatic%2Fuploads%2F4%2F2024%2F10%2FRangers-Gilligan.png?w=480&auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=max)
John Gilligan reacts as Rangers punished by UEFA for Lyon incident - 'Desperately Unfair'
John Gilligan has urged Rangers fans to stop using pyrotechnics at games as UEFA fined the club after an incident in the defeat to Lyon in the Europa League.
Gers fans let off fireworks inside the stadium during the 4-1 defeat to the Ligue 1 side on 3 October in the European clash.
In an open letter to the fans [Rangers website, 16 October], Gilligan revealed that the Glasgow-based club have been fined over £11,000 for the offence and have to pay around £16,000 for a similar incident against Malmo.
"My message is the use of pyrotechnics must stop and stop now at all of our matches home and away," Gilligan's letter read.
"Not only could the repercussions become ever-larger for the club, many supporters have difficulty coping with the effects of pyrotechnics, whether that be the smoke or loud bangs they produce.
"It is desperately unfair for any Rangers supporter to come to a match and be affected in such a manner."
John Gilligan and Rangers don't need distractions
As things stand, the roles of chairman and CEO at the club are vacant after the departure of John Bennett and James Bisgrove.
Gilligan has been operating as the interim chairman for some time now, and with director of football operations Creag Robertson also leaving, the club needs stability.
Philippe Clement already has his hands full with the team and doesn't need any more distractions, with the club fighting on all fronts.
In the league, Rangers sit third, five points off leaders and bitter rivals Celtic, and they are set to face Motherwell in the semi-finals of the Scottish League Cup soon.
When it comes to the Europa League, there is still a long way to go, and despite the damaging loss to Lyon, the Gers can still make it out of the group stages.
Hopefully, the situation at the board level will not affect the team's performance on the pitch.
However, the management needs to sort themselves out quickly before the fans' ire grows even more prominent.
In other Rangers news, Neraysho Kasanwirjo stuns Netherlands media after what Rangers star did.
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