Joe O’Rourke, the general secretary of the Celtic Supporters’ Association, has urged the Parkhead fans to heed the urgings to ditch the pyrotechnics.

Celtic are in the dock with the SFA after a report was submitted to compliance officer Tony McGlennan about the letting off of smoke bombs and flares as Ronny Deila’s side beat Stranraer in the Scottish Cup on Sunday afternoon.

There has been a catalogue of complaints in recent seasons against Celtic fans indulging in the use of fireworks at games, in Europe and domestically. The club have been fined by UEFA eight times in the last five years while a pending sanction awaits in February when UEFA’s disciplinary committee convenes to discuss the use of a flare when Celtic played Fenerbahce in Istanbul last month in the Europa League.

Deila condemned the use of the flares after the win at Stair Park this weekend and O’Rourke has urged his fellow supporters to take note.

Unwilling to speak publicly on the issue, O’Rourke released a statement on the Celtic Supporters’ Asscoaition website.

O’Rourke’s statement on www.TheCSA.co.uk read: “I was at a very cold Stair Park in Stranraer yesterday to watch Celtic progress to the next round of the Scottish Cup with a reasonably comfortable 3-0 win; the sad thing is the headlines aren’t about football.

“I’ve said on here before, and i have the full backing of our member branches, the use of pyrotechnics needs to stop, and it needs to stop right away.

“I was only yards away from the area where they seemed to be coming from yesterday, the people around me were like me of the senior variety, and all were of the opinion that it was unacceptable; in fact there were a few angry words exchanged.

“The dangers to our own supporters alone make it unacceptable. We have many travelling supporters who suffer from respiratory problems; a lot of which were caused by many years working in shipyards and down mines; they deserve to be respected.

“As this is an SFA authority tournament we will probably face a fine or sanctions of some form as well. A fantastic reputation built up over many years is being torn down by a small minority of our fans.

“I really don’t know who is using the pyrotechnics; but I’m asking; for the benefit of our own fans to please stop.”