Scottish Premiership clubs have voted to phase out artificial pitches in the top flight after a resolution was brought before them at Hampden this week.
Plastic pitches have been an annoyance for Celtic supporters for several years with former boss Ange Postecoglou and current manager Brendan Rodgers both speaking out on the issue.
Rodgers stated back in March that he was “hopeful” they would soon be a thing of the past in the Premiership and he’s got his wish after a statement was released by the SPFL on Friday afternoon.
The league body said: “Clubs in the Premiership had brought forward a resolution seeking to phase out artificial pitches in Scotland’s top division, which was issued to all Premiership clubs. The SPFL can confirm that the resolution has now passed.
“The SPFL Board has granted a two-year period to allow clubs with an artificial pitch to plan for the phasing out of artificial pitches in the top tier of Scottish football.
“This period of grace is in line with recommendations of the SPFL Competitions Working Group, which represents member clubs across the SPFL.
“The SPFL Board recently approved plans for a Premiership-wide project to work with a leading pitch consultancy firm, which is regularly used by UEFA, to improve the standards of grass pitches in the cinch Premiership.
“The SPFL will be engaging with Premiership clubs on this project ahead of the new season.”
Just one plastic pitch for Celtic next season
Livingston’s relegation means that there is just one artificial surface in the Premiership for the 2024/25 season – Kilmarnock’s pitch at Rugby Park.
The Ayrshire side had already announced their intention to move away from their current pitch, but this ruling will ensure that teams promoted from the lower leagues will have to put a viable grass surface in place.
There are other pitch issues in Scotland, of course. Recent sagas involving Dundee threw the league into potential scheduling chaos, so it’s heartening to hear that the SPFL are addressing that, too.
Better pitches mean better football and, hopefully, that will be a benefit to Celtic in the end. It will certainly be something welcomed by many Bhoys fans.