Celtic’s Premier Sports Cup semi-final clash with Rangers at Hampden will be played with fewer Hoops supporters inside the national stadium after the club was hit with ticket sanctions for previous offences.

Both Celtic and Rangers were found guilty of breaching SPFL rules after widespread pyrotechnic use during last season’s Premier Sports Cup semi-finals and final.

The disciplinary outcome means both clubs have had their allocations reduced by 500 tickets for the upcoming last-four tie.

It’s a blow for Celtic fans who travel in their thousands for Hampden showdowns, with demand for Glasgow Derby semi-finals always outstripping supply. Every ticket matters on such occasions, and losing part of the allocation will frustrate supporters who miss out.

There will be 500 empty seats in both ends of the Rangers Vs Celtic League Cup Semi Final due to SPFL sanctions for flare use last season https://t.co/XfNTWhfSri

— Scotland’s Coefficient (@scotlandscoeff1) September 21, 2025

The use of pyrotechnics has long been a feature among sections of the Celtic support, who see it as a way of creating a powerful atmosphere and adding spectacle to big games. However, while the colour and noise is often celebrated among fans, it has now led directly to punishments that reduce the backing Rodgers’ side will receive at Hampden.

Alongside the immediate reduction, a suspended punishment also hangs over Celtic. Any repeat offence before March 2027 would see a further 800 tickets removed for a future Premier Sports Cup fixture at Hampden. It is a clear warning from the authorities that tighter control is now expected inside the stands.

The sanctions follow a period of tension between supporters and the board, with protests taking place at Firhill before the quarter-final against Partick Thistle. Those frustrations will only deepen as the fanbase learns of further cuts to its presence at one of the biggest games of the season.

For Brendan Rodgers and his players, the atmosphere inside Hampden will still be fierce, but every reduction lessens the green-and-white noise they can usually rely on in Glasgow’s south side.

Glasgow Derby semi-finals are often defined by fine margins, and vocal backing can play its part.

Despite the cut, Hampden will remain split between two passionate sets of fans. With a place in the Premier Sports Cup final at stake, Celtic will hope their support, even slightly reduced, can still make the difference in pushing Rodgers’ side towards silverware.