Throw Flares, Lose Tickets , SFA Says Enough Is Enough
Speaking during a candid segment on BBC Sportsound over the weekend, Maxwell didn’t shy away from the severity of the issue. He recalled a particular incident that underlined just how serious and personal the situation has become even for the players themselves.
He referenced the fiery Old Firm clash between Celtic and Rangers at Hampden in 2023, where pyrotechnics lit up the occasion for all the wrong reasons. “There was a video going around,” Maxwell said, “and a guy literally had a rocket. They’re finding increasingly creative ways to sneak these things into the grounds.”
But what really struck a chord was the aftermath. “I spoke to the Celtic board afterwards,” Maxwell continued. “One of them mentioned that Callum McGregor had approached them directly. He told them it was the first time the players had really discussed feeling unsafe , something actually landing on the pitch. That was a moment of realisation. If players are beginning to speak up, then we need to listen and act.”
Maxwell believes that the influence of players, particularly those as respected as McGregor, could make all the difference in turning the tide. “With the best intentions in the world, when someone like me or Neil Doncaster tells fans to behave, it often backfires. But if players their heroes are standing up and saying, ‘you’re affecting us, you’re messing with our heads, I feel anxious taking a corner because something might land next to me,’ then that message carries real weight.”
He emphasized that footballers aren’t just public figures they’re employees simply trying to do their job in a safe environment. “The pitch is their workplace. It’s unacceptable that they have to carry out their duties with flares exploding nearby or objects being hurled from the stands.”
And this is far from a one-off. The 2024–25 season has seen numerous disturbing episodes involving fan behavior. While pyrotechnics are the most common issue, things escalated even further on the final day of the season when Aberdeen defender Jack MacKenzie was struck in the head by a chair thrown not by rival supporters, but by his own fans.
The Scottish FA, in response, is moving toward firmer disciplinary measures. The next major step? Restricting ticket allocations for clubs whose fans misbehave.
“The ticket reduction approach is fundamental,” Maxwell said. “It’s not something we want to do lightly, but we believe it’s necessary at this point. We’re hoping it sends a strong message , and has a clear deterrent effect.”
He acknowledged, however, that more may need to be done. “We’ll monitor how things develop. If ticket cuts aren’t enough to curb these behaviours, we’ll be forced to explore alternative routes. It’s not something we can allow to spiral further.”
In essence, Maxwell is calling for a united front not just from clubs and administrators, but from players and fans themselves. With superstars like Callum McGregor leading the way, Scottish football may just have the internal strength to restore its stadiums to safe, passionate but respectful environments.
