Brendan Rodgers fears Celtic players will be INJURED due to 'needless' pyro as he backs SPFL crackdown

Brendan Rodgers has backed moves by the SPFL to clamp down on supporters’ use of pyros and expressed concern the issue could result in injury to his players.

Celtic, along with Rangers and Motherwell, are facing potential fines from the SPFL who have issued notices of complaint against the clubs for firework displays among their fans which disrupted last month’s Premier Sports Cup semi-finals at Hampden. The pyros deployed by Celtic fans caused a 14 minute delay to kick-off which Rodgers insists posed a physical risk to players as it altered the nature of their warm-up.

The Hoops boss has welcomed the SPFL stepping in to take action with the timing clearly also intended to serve as a warning ahead of next Sunday’s Premier Sports Cup Final between Celtic and Rangers at Hampden. “Safety is of paramount importance,” said Rodgers. “Firstly, for the people in the stands. I always worry about people who are in and around that area when they are going off.

“When you’re young, sometimes you don’t see the dangers. You don’t see or think of other people. But that’s a concern for me, especially for our own supporters.

“Then my concern is also for the players. Because when you are preparing for a game of football, it is detailed to the second so you are ready to go whenever the kick-off is due to start. We were 14 minutes delayed in that semi-final. Now, that can be the cause of someone getting injured, especially at this time of year.

“You prepare, your details are there, you go to start the game and then you can’t. You are standing about waiting, so all that preparation you put in - the body’s cold again. Then the muscles are at risk.

“So these are things you would maybe never think about when you are holding the flare or sticking