Premiership clubs vote in favour of banning artificial pitches
Last updated 31st May 2024
Premiership clubs have voted in favour of banning aritificial pitches from the top flight of Scottish football.
The surfaces will be phased out with clubs given two years to comply with the new guidelines.
Kilmarnock are the only top flight club heading into the 2024-25 season who don't have a grass pitch.
However, the Rugby Park side have already announced their intention to have a grass surface in time for the start of the following campaign.
A statement from the SPFL read: "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."
The initial proposal had been criticised by some lower league clubs.
Raith Rovers, Hamilton Accies, Falkirk and Queen of the South thought the vote was “poorly thought through” - with only top flight clubs allowed to decide.
A joint statement from the four clubs read: “In response to the proposal to ban artificial playing surfaces in the Scottish Premiership, over the past few months we have sought constructive dialogue with both the SPFL Competitions Working Group (CWG) and directly with Scottish Premiership clubs.
“We have done so because we believe the proposal to be fundamentally flawed on a number of levels and, if approved, will cause significant long-term damage to Scottish football by undermining sporting integrity, impacting the wider game and creating huge financial entry barriers to the top league.
“We unreservedly support the Premiership clubs desire to ensure that playing surfaces are always of a high quality, so worked together to create what we believe to be a constructive and well-considered alternative proposal, which we are publishing today.
“We recently had the opportunity to present our ideas to both the Competitions Working Group and those Premiership clubs not involved in the CWG, and we thank them for taking the time to listen to us.
“We are, however, disappointed to learn that the Premiership clubs intend to proceed to a vote on a blanket ban of artificial surfaces from season 2026/27, and that none of the elements of our alternative proposal have been adopted or incorporated into their final proposal.