A security expert has urged the Old Firm to lead the way in taking drastic measures to prevent deaths from toxic pyros.
Peter McLaughlin, who was involved in an SFA crackdown on flares 10 years ago, said the rise of ultra fan groups has seen smoke-filled stadiums being tolerated.
He now wants Celtic and Rangers to close off areas of their grounds where the risks could be high.
The clubs are days away from facing each other in the league and are set to meet in a Scottish Cup semi-final this month when more than 50,000 fans will cram into Hampden Park.
McLaughlin said: “If the flares issue continues to pose a risk to the safety of ordinary supporters, players and police, of course local authorities may look to the withdrawal of safety certificates.
“There is a reluctance to do that because there will be huge pressure by the big clubs to avoid going down that route.
“Teams like Celtic and Rangers should take the initiative and shut down any area where there is a clear risk of serious injury.
“That might seem like an extreme measure but if there is a catastrophic injury to a child or a death then there will be a clamour for further ranging measures.”
Concerns were raised last month after the Viaplay Cup Final, where fans from both sides of the Old Firm ignited a bigger horde of pyros than at any previous match.
Some were seen using 5ft-long launchers, aiming rockets on to the pitch and at other fans as police and stewards looked on.
McLaughlin also hit out at his former employer for what he believes is penny-pinching, as instead of clamping down on pyros, the SFA decided to cut costs on specialist search teams at Hampden.
He added: “There was some concern about flares leading into the 2016 Scottish Cup final between Hibs and Rangers and all eyes were on authorities to nip it in the bud.
“That led to us appointing around 40 or 50 extra stewards. At future matches, we put special barriers at the turnstiles to allow them to search fans. That effectively put another £4500 or so on top of the regular security costs but it did get some success.
“But the additional stewards got abandoned because of the expense.”
McLaughlin said much of the debate in police, club and political circles became a talking shop.
He said: “I was representing the SFA in a working group on anti-social behaviour at football but the issues with pyros fell down the priority order.
“Humza Yousaf went on to chair a few of the meetings after he became justice secretary but, in my opinion, they just turned into a talking shop.”
The group was set up after the bust-up between Ally McCoist and Neil Lennon in 2011 which led to Offensive Behaviour at Football legislation – subsequently repealed.
Photographs from the recent Old Firm match showed one young fan launching multiple rockets from a pole. The fan did not appear to be arrested despite stewards yards away.
Celtic closed its safe-standing section at Parkhead for two games in 2017 after Glasgow City Council expressed concern about flares and warned there could be a threat to the renewal of their safety certificate. A nine-year-old Celtic fan was injured by a flare at Parkhead in September.
Celtic have banned fans guilty of pyro offences. Along with Hibs and Rangers, the club were fined by UEFA this season over fans’ use of flares.
An SFA spokeswoman said: “For matches at Hampden Park, security measures are put in place to guard against the use of pyrotechnics and cost is not a factor.”
Celtic and Rangers were both approached for comment.
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.
