Hibernian Football Club has announced a reduction in the ticket allocation for away fans at its home ground Easter Road following what it describes in a statement as 'abhorrent behaviour and chanting' by some visiting supporters.
The optics of this must not be lost on executives at the SPFL, especially with games from the Scottish Premiership on TV regularly nowadays.
The decision comes in the wake of their home Scottish Cup quarter-final defeat against Rangers. The Edinburgh club also made it clear in their statement that the problems they are referencing do not relate to matches against their bitter rivals Hearts.
In the statement entitled 'Enough is Enough', Hibs called on football governing bodies and fellow clubs to take stronger action against unacceptable conduct.
The statement read:
"Whether that be through the use of pyrotechnics, sectarianism, objects being thrown onto the field of play, or through other actions, this is simply not good enough."
"Football is a sport for all and stadiums should be a place where families and friends can come together to support their team."
"Hibernian FC prides itself on being a club for everyone regardless of race, ethnicity, colour, gender, religion, creed and sexual orientation. Everyone should be able to feel safe and comfortable attending a football match."
Hibernian's plea comes as part of an ongoing effort to combat unruly fan behaviour that has become increasingly prevalent in recent years.
The BBC has also reported that Hibs are willing to discuss the introduction of stricter measures such as strict liability, where clubs could face severe sanctions for the actions of their supporters.
This would be a significant shift from current rules, which allow clubs to avoid punishment if they can demonstrate efforts made towards preventing unacceptable conduct.
The Scottish FA has requested Hibs' input on dealing with unacceptable fan conduct for consideration by its rule change committee. This move indicates an increasing recognition within football governance that more stringent measures may be necessary.
This decision by Hibernian marks an important stand against misconduct among visiting fans at Easter Road. By reducing ticket allocations and advocating for stricter regulations, they are sending out a clear message about their commitment towards creating safer and more respectful environments at football matches.
While it remains uncertain whether or not other clubs or governing bodies will follow suit with similar measures or changes in policy regarding fan behaviour, what is clear is that this issue cannot be ignored any longer.