Stand closure & €43,000 fine – UEFA precedent set amid Rangers pyro incident.
The UEFA precedent set amid Rangers fans’ pyro flashpoint
Rangers can expect to face UEFA’s stance on risky pyrotechnic occurrences this season.
The Union Bears light off rockets and flares inside Ibrox before their Europa League encounter against Lyon.
Referee Svan Jablonski had to delay the start of the match due to a display behind the goal in the Copland Road Stand.
A similar occurrence occurred in August, when Chelsea played Servette in Switzerland.
The Swiss team was severely reprimanded by UEFA’s regulating body, and their fans also set off countless pyrotechnics inside their stadium.
They were fined €43,000 and the area of the stadium housing their ‘ultras’ would be closed for the next European fixture.
So, the precedent for these kind of scenarios has been established, and Rangers may face a full or partial closure of the Copland Stand for their next Europa League home encounter.
The Scottish Premiership team has recently returned to Ibrox after completing building work on that area of the stadium.
According to the Scottish Sun, Belgian match delegate Johny Vanspauwen highlighted the Union Bears’ pyro display in his report to UEFA last night.
Rangers’ next Europa League match at Ibrox is on Thursday, October 24 against Steaua Bucharest.
They will then host Tottenham before Christmas, followed by Union Saint-Gilloise in January.
Rangers’ fate is expected to be determined by UEFA’s disciplinary decision over the international break.
In recent years, Eintracht Frankfurt and Galatasaray have also faced similar punishments.
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