Aberdeen docked 500 semi-final tickets after Rugby Park pitch invasion

Aberdeen have had their ticket allocation for the Premier Sports Cup semi-final against Rangers cut by 500 as punishment for the scenes that accompanied their quarter-final victory over Kilmarnock.

The Dons had secured around 17,000 tickets for the last-four tie at Hampden on 31 October, but the SPFL has now trimmed that figure — and the club must meet the cost of the seats lost to the sanction.

The punishment follows a pitch invasion and a pyrotechnics display from the travelling support in the previous round. Some supporters ran on to the Rugby Park pitch after Aberdeen's penalty shoot-out success against Kilmarnock.

Aberdeen fans spill on to the pitch at Rugby Park after the penalty shoot-out

'Vast majority are undoubtedly very well behaved'

Reacting to the sanction, newly-installed Pittodrie chief executive Adrian Bevington pointed to the passion of the club's support while stressing that the trouble was down to a minority.

He described Aberdeen's fanbase as "hugely passionate" and insisted "the vast majority are undoubtedly very well behaved".

"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," Bevington said.

The reduction means 500 fewer Aberdeen fans will be able to attend the Hampden showdown with Rangers, with the club shouldering the financial cost of the SPFL's punishment as it looks to avoid similar disciplinary action in the future.