‘SFA are actually punishing Hibernian for Rangers offence’ as latest announcement made
Rangers have been hit with a punishment for the use of pyrotechnics.
Rangers have won four games on the bounce under Danny Rohl, with their latest encounter ending in a 2-0 victory over Aberdeen.
However, this run has been the Gers’ first sign of consistency under the German boss, with several wins followed by poor results earlier in the campaign.
One of those wins saw Rangers secure a 3-0 victory over Kilmarnock in December, which led to the use of pyrotechnics from the travelling Gers supporters.
Rangers hit with ticket deduction after Kilmarnock incident
Rangers have been forced to release statements in the past in regard to pyrotechnic usage, with the Gers having previously faced suspended punishments.
However, after the offence was repeated in the trip to Kilmarnock on 6 December, the Gers have now been hit with a punishment that will see Rangers face a reduction of 50 tickets for their trip to Hibernian on 1 February.
Rangers will be required to pay the cost of those tickets to Hibernian, though they will still likely lose out on additional matchday income.
Motherwell have also been hit with the punishment, while Aberdeen and Hibernian have been served with suspended penalties for separate offences.
After the ticket cuts were announced, Keith Hackett exclusively told Ibrox News: “The Scottish FA have now set a marker to all the clubs under their control regarding the concerns of the use of pyrotechnics.
“I would certainly like to see more transparency on the 50 ticket ban, which I believe will have little impact on fans’ behaviour.
“It’s also reducing the income for Hibernian.”
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What have Rangers said in response to SFA punishment?
Ultimately, it is Rangers supporters who are being punished for the continued use of pyrotechnics, and if that goes on, further sanctions are already in place.
If the offence is committed again at a Rangers away game between now and the end of the campaign, the Gers will face a 100 ticket reduction for a future trip.
The Light Blues have acknowledged this in a statement shared via their website in response to the punishment.
It reads: “Rangers FC acknowledges the SPFL sanction imposed on the club today following the use of pyrotechnics at the away match against Kilmarnock last month.
“As a result, a previously suspended reduction of 50 tickets will now be applied for our visit to Hibernian on 2 February.
“In addition, the SPFL has imposed a further suspended sanction, which would see a reduction of 100 tickets at a future away league match should there be any further use of pyrotechnics by Rangers supporters at an away fixture before the end of the season.
“The position on pyrotechnics is clear. Beyond the obvious safety risks they pose to supporters, incidents of this nature are now leading to increasingly firm action from football authorities, with sanctions being applied across more than one competition.
“Rangers is one of several SPFL clubs to have been sanctioned today as a result of recent pyrotechnic use.“
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