Dangers of flares in football highlighted

The Home Office has marked the opening weekend of the Barclays Premier League football season by warning fans of the dangers of flares.

Policing and Criminal Justice Minister Damian Green said the increasing use of pyrotechnics smuggled into stadia, some of which can reach temperatures of 1,600 Celsius and are difficult to extinguish, present a serious safety hazard for sportsmen, spectators and stewards in the grounds.

While nobody was killed or injured in an incident involving flares last season, Mr Green warned police officers and security staff would not take the threats lightly and urged fans to ensure matches pass off without any danger.

“Football fans might see images of football grounds in other parts of Europe full of smoke and light caused by pyrotechnic devices and think that they create a good atmosphere – but they do not,” he said.

“We are very lucky in British football that no one has been seriously injured or killed by a flare for a long time but a fatal incident in Bolivia this year showed just what might happen.

“I am sure the majority of fans who illegally smuggle pyrotechnic devices into matches do not fully understand the consequences – but they could end up leaving someone with life-changing injuries, as well as finding themselves with a criminal record and banned from football.”

Deputy Chief Constable Andy Holt, national lead on football policing, agreed with Mr Green.

“The increase in the use of pyrotechnics at football matches is a concern for the police service because they present a serious risk to supporters,” he said. “If the trend continues, it could cause a serious injury or worse.”

Kevin Miles, chief executive of the Football Supporters’ Federation (FSF), also supported the Government’s warning, adding the FSF is looking to negotiate an amnesty with authorities so fans can hand in pyrotechnics without risk of banning orders.

“The majority of fans simply don’t like flares. They burn at phenomenal temperatures and are potentially very dangerous things to have in a ground,” he said. “Smoke bombs aren’t especially popular as they can block your view of the action and cause breathing difficulties for some. Neither adds anything special to the atmosphere at games.

“On top of that, if you’re caught with either in the ground you’ll be banned from football for years, have restrictions placed on your movement and could go to jail. Is it really worth it?”

Professor Clifford Stott, principal research fellow of the University of Leeds’ security and justice research group, said an amnesty would be a good idea, but added it “doesn’t really get to grips with the core issue” of increasing flare usage or wider problems facing football fans, and called for a “serious debate” to bring in a “sea change” in national football policing.

“You need to be very careful that you don’t create criminality that wouldn’t normally be there, and that’s the danger whenever politicians start talking about crackdowns,” he said.

“Flares are a major issue in Europe, particularly in ‘ultra’ cultures, and there’s an issue around here that cultures seek to address their identity and suppressing this could lead to a broader problem.”