Aberdeen lose 500 semi-final tickets after pitch invasion

Aberdeen have had their ticket allocation for the Premier Sports Cup semi-final against Rangers cut by 500.

It follows a pitch invasion and a pyrotechnics display from fans away to Kilmarnock in the previous round.

Aberdeen had secured around 17,000 tickets for the semi-final at Hampden on 31 October, while the club must now meet the cost of the seats lost to the SPFL sanction.

Some supporters ran on to the Rugby Park pitch following the Dons' penalty shoot-out success.

Reacting to the punishment, newly-installed Pittodrie chief executive Adrian Bevington spoke of a "hugely passionate" fanbase while stressing "the vast majority are undoubtedly very well behaved".

He added: "What we have to ensure is that moving forward we don't put ourselves in a position again where we can be at risk of further sanction."

A club statement later reminded fans that the use of such pyrotechnics is illegal and could lead to a banning order.

"This latest decision demonstrates the significant consequences such incidents can have, not only for the club, but for supporters who simply want to follow and back the team," it reads.

"We ask all supporters to consider the consequences of their actions and to help protect the matchday experience for everyone."