David Martindale responds to Rangers flare gate as Livingston boss tells fans throwing fireworks 'abide by the rules'

The extensive use of fireworks and flares at Dens Park has sparked concern and Martindale wants to see punters playing by the rules.

David Martindale wants to see punters abiding by the rules as he responded to the pyro furore from Rangers fans at Dundee.

The Dens Park clash had to be briefly paused early in the first half after flares and fireworks were thrown onto the pitch near the away end. It's sparked an investigation by Dundee while the SPFL condemned it and Record Sport understand both the league and Police Scotland are fearing similar scenes at Hampden this weekend. Rangers face Hearts at the national stadium on Sunday in the Viaplay Cup semi-final.

Livingston boss Martindale believes the rules are in place for a reason and thinks if cops and the safety officers at grounds are asking fans not to use pyro, then it's for a good reason. He takes his team to Dens to face Dundee on Sunday and said at his press conference ahead of their game: "If Police Scotland and your safety officer at the club don't want pyro in the stadium then that tells you everything you need to know. I've got limited knowledge on it but if they saying they don't want it, there's obviously a good reason for it.

"It's banned from stadiums (pyro). One is bad enough but I would imagine it's the quantity which is a big, big problem at times. You've got to abide by the rules. If those are the rules in the stadium then we've got to abide by them in the best possible way."