PYRO MANIACS

Plea to get tough on thugsor ALL fans risk stádium lockout | Player union boss says games may be held behind closed doors | Rangers, Motherwell and Celtic handed SPFL complaint notices

- JOHN DINGWALL

FOOTBALL clubs must get tough on the scourge of pyrotechnics or they could be forced to play behind closed doors.

The warning, by a senior figure in the game, comes after Celtic, Motherwell and Rangers were issued with notices of complaint by the Scottish Professional Football League over fans letting off pyros at games.

Fraser Wishart, boss of Scotland's Professional Footballers Association, says dangerous flares and fireworks continue to pose a threat to players and fans alike and clubs must take meaningful steps to stamp out the use of the flammable devices or face the possibility of partial or full stadium closures.

Wishart said: "If we had a problem like this at another event, say an outdoor concert or something like that, then steps would be taken.

"Football is an event that's licensed by local authorities.

"So we have to be very careful here that we try and solve things within football, because if we don't then others may step in, and we can't control those ramifications.

"My personal view is that if it doesn't stop, then local authorities and the government will step in.

"That's my personal view from having conversations with various people, but we don't want it to get to that stage.

"I think full or partial closure is a danger that we need to have a look at.

"The local authorities and government are saying, 'well, how are we going to stop this?' "They look at football to resolve it and, if they don't, it could be as serious as grounds being closed.

or parts of grounds being closed because it's a health and safety issue the same way as it would be with any other venue or public event." Celtic, Motherwell and Rangers could be fined for allowing the "irresponsible" and "unacceptable" use of pyrotechnics by their supporters.