Scottish Premier League clubs have voted in favor of banning the use of artificial pitches at top flight venues.
The surface is set to be phased out by 2026 after at least nine of the 12 Premiership clubs voted on the proposal.
Next season's top teams will consist of Aberdeen, Celtic, Dundee, Dundee United, Hearts, Hibernian, Kilmarnock, Motherwell, Rangers, Ross County, St Johnstone and St Mirren.
Following Livingston's relegation, Kilmarnock's Rugby Park remains the only artificial pitch at the top level. The club is already planning a return to grass in 2025.
Livingston were relegated from the First Division.
Raith Rovers, who missed out on promotion to the Premiership after losing to Ross County in the play-offs, also have an artificial pitch and the only other teams – lower league clubs Falkirk, Queen of the South and Hamilton Accies – are 'fundamentally flawed' with the proposal. He explained. The club has used the surface in the top flight.
“The SPFL board has given clubs using artificial pitches two years to draw up plans to phase out artificial pitches from the top tier of Scottish football,” the SPFL said in a statement.
All 12 Premiership clubs voted for the proposal, which needs nine votes to pass.
“This grace period follows recommendations from the SPFL Competitions Working Group, which represents member clubs across the SPFL.
“The SPFL Board of Directors recently approved plans for a Premiership-wide project to improve the standards of grass pitches in the Cinch Premiership, in partnership with a leading stadium consultancy regularly used by UEFA. The SPFL will work with Premiership clubs to provide new “We are working on this project ahead of the season,” he said.
