SPFL hatch plan to stop pyro madness as Rangers fans display 'crossed a line' and thrusts issue into urgency mode

Anxious Scottish football bosses are to draw up battle plans to boot pyrotechnics out of the game amid growing safety fears for fans and players.

The move comes after a day of crisis talks involving the government, Police Scotland, the SFA, SPFL and Football Safety Officers Association Scotland - just weeks after a top flight showdown between Rangers and Dundee had to be suspended following a huge ‘wall-of-fire’ display in the away end at Dens Park.

Tuesday's summit had already been scheduled to take place before those chaotic scenes on Tayside, amid concerns that the increased use of flares, fireworks and smoke bombs inside Scottish grounds may lead to tragic circumstances. And Record Sport understands a coordinated action plan will now be thrashed out between Holyrood, Hampden and police chiefs with the aim of stamping out the growing trend among sections of ‘ultra’ supporters.

Tuesday's discussions are seen as the first step towards that crack down with one source telling us: “What happened at Dens Park crossed a line in terms of the risk to public safety but this has been an issue of concern for a period of time now.

“It’s clear there has to be plans put in place, as a matter of some urgency, to get pyro out of Scottish football and it’s up to the authorities to work out what that plan looks like. But clearly, we can’t sit around waiting until such times as someone inside a stadium is badly injured, or worse.”

After lengthy talks inside the national stadium yesterday the SFA and SPFL issued a joint statement underlining their determination to snuff the pyros out. It read: “Representatives of the Scottish Professional Football League and Scottish FA today attended a scheduled event hosted by Football Safety