When plastic pitches could be BANNED from Premiership as SPFL confirm imminent vote

Plastic pitches could soon be voted OUT of the Scottish Premiership as the SPFL confirmed a fresh vote will be held.

All 12 top-flight clubs will have their say on whether to outlaw artificial surfaces at an upcoming vote and if passed, synthetic playing fields would be prohibited from 2026/27 onwards. Kilmarnock and Livingston have both used astroturf this season, although Killie have already announced plans to install a grass surface for the start of the 2025/26 campaign. Livi, meanwhile, suffered relegation to the Championship after finishing bottom of the league.

An SPFL statement read: "Clubs in the cinch Premiership have today brought forward a resolution seeking to phase out the use of artificial pitches in the SPFL top flight. The SPFL will now issue the resolution to all cinch Premiership clubs, and the outcome of that vote will be announced in due course. The resolution requires nine votes in favour to be passed.

"The SPFL Board has confirmed at a meeting today that if the resolution is approved, it will grant a two-year period to allow clubs with an artificial pitch to plan accordingly, with artificial pitches not permitted in the top division from season 2026/27. This period of grace is in line with recommendations of the SPFL Competitions Working Group, which represents member clubs across the SPFL.

"Separately, the SPFL Board has 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."