A CELTIC ultras group have revealed they will BOYCOTT the upcoming League Cup semi-final against Rangers as a form of retaliation towards the SPFL.
Back in March we revealed that both Old Firm clubs had been hit with a ticket reduction ahead of their next league cup match at the national stadium.
The punishment was handed out by the league body due to incidents relating to the use of pyrotechnics at last season’s Premier Sports Cup semi-final and final.
That meant Hampden would have 1,000 empty seats when the Glasgow rivals do battle at the national stadium next month.
And now there will be even more vacant seats in the ground for the derby clash, with Bhoys Celtic insisting they will not attend the match.
Bhoys Celtic, one of the most prominent ultras groups who follow the Hoops, claim the SPFL’s views on pyro are “draconian” and that their rules are designed to “turn fans against each other”.
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In a statement released on their Instagram account, the group said: “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.”
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