Scottish Premiership club given permission to use plastic pitch for extra YEAR beyond planned ban on artificial surfaces

Scottish Sun

9 hours ago

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THE ban on artificial surfaces in the Scottish Premiership is due to come into force prior to the 2026/27 season getting underway.
But it's already been confirmed that one top flight club WILL still be playing on their plastic pitch in that very season.
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The artificial surface at the Falkirk Stadium
Credit: SNS
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The SPFL have given an extended period of grace
Credit: Kenny Ramsay
Back in June 2024, Scottish Premiership clubs voted in favour of banning the use of artificial surfaces in the top division.
The plans were to see all plastic pitches phased by 2026, with the SPFL granting all clubs a two-year period to change their surface.
There are three synthetic surfaces in the Premiership this season - Kilmarnock and the newly promoted duo of Falkirk and Livingston.
In late 2023, Killie announced plans to revert to a grass pitch by the beginning of this season.
However, almost a year on from that announcement, they confirmed they would delay the switch to grass until the beginning of NEXT season instead, the 2026/27 campaign.
While Killie plan to have their plastic pitch gone for next season, Falkirk's artificial surface will STILL be being utilised.
That's after the SPFL confirmed the Bairns had been granted an 'extended period of grace' to use their surface.
It means Falkirk will be using their plastic surface for a season beyond the planned phasing-out of the pitches next summer.
The club, promoted as Scottish Championship winners last season, had only installed their current surface in 2023 when they were in League One at the time.
In a statement, the SPFL said they had been 'sympathetic' to Falkirk's situation.
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The governing body said: "The SPFL board was sympathetic to the position of Falkirk FC, which had installed a new artificial surface in summer 2023, in full compliance with the SPFL Rules in place at that time, expecting that surface to have a lifespan well beyond three years.
"The subsequent change to SPFL Rules, following a divisional vote by William Hill Premiership clubs, has therefore caused a particular issue for Falkirk FC.
"This one-off additional period of grace, in relation to what has proved to be a high-quality and well-maintained artificial pitch, is intended by the SPFL Board to be a proportionate and fair response to a unique situation, whilst also respecting the will of William Hill Premiership clubs in the vote taken in May 2024.
"We would like to thank the Directors of Falkirk FC for their hard work and their pragmatism in bringing this matter to a positive conclusion."
Falkirk meanwhile added: "Falkirk FC welcomes the SPFL's recognition of the position we found ourselves in, following the earlier pitches decision.
"As a fan-owned and newly-promoted club, having to find such a significant sum to replace a perfectly good surface could have threatened our club's future.
"While we still believe there is a place for high quality artificial surfaces at all levels of the game in Scotland, we also had to act responsibly in the here and now — and that meant reaching a compromise that prevented uncertainty for Scottish football and for our club.
"We hope other SPFL member clubs will be treated with similar flexibility, and thank the SPFL for their cooperation and diligence."
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