WILL CLARK: Consequences of flares needs to be put across to fans
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IT has become a more common occurrence at football matches in recent years and it flares my temper.
Flares and smoke bombs have somehow been introduced into Scottish football and are being let off in stadiums, thrown on to the pitch and disrupting games.
And despite it being illegal, how many football fans have actually been prosecuted for being in possession of a flare in a stadium, let alone firing one off?
A law making it a criminal offence to possess fireworks and flares at football matches came into force in June. The legislation enables police to search and remove pyrotechnics from people as they enter the stadium.
It is a specific criminal offence to possess a firework or other pyrotechnic at certain places or events – such as football matches, music concerts and festivals – without reasonable excuse.
Yet, it has become common place this season to see flares being let off at a number of games.
The most notable one happened at the start of this month at a Premiership match between Dundee and Rangers.
Fans in the Rangers end let off so many flares and smoke bombs during the match at Dundee’s Scot Foam Stadium it caused the smoke alarms to go off.
The referee ordered both sets of players to return to the dressing rooms to allow the smoke to clear.
As a result of the incident at Dundee, the Scottish FA and Scottish Premier Football League issued a statement to fans before the League Cup semi finals at Hampden last weekend.
They said: “The use of pyrotechnics is illegal.
“The safety, security and enjoyment of tens of thousands of fans who will fill the national stadium this weekend is paramount and there will be a range of steps put in place to help identify anyone who transgresses, including additional security measures and CCTV surveillance.”
However, despite it being an offence to possess flares and smoke bombs inside stadiums, there has been very little reports of people being convicted of letting off flares or smoke bombs inside stadiums at Scottish matches.
And as a result, it is still common place to see this taking place inside stadiums across Scotland.
Until the message is put across it is a criminal offence and there are repercussions for such actions, how is it expected to put a stop to it?
Certain fans will continue to let off pyrotechnics or flares if they believe there will be no consequences for their actions.
This isn’t just a problem in the Scottish Premiership, it has also happened at lower league matches as well.
For the problem to be sorted, fans who are guilty need to see there are consequences for their actions.
As well as games being disrupted, there is also the safety element of people being burned and suffering from smoke inhalation.
There has to be a tougher crackdown on those responsible for lighting up flares and the danger it can cause.
Until people are seen to be punished for their actions, it will still be seen as commonplace in Scottish football.
Fans responsible need to be ejected from stadiums, arrested and punished in courts.
I have not seen any incidents of fans being prosecuted in Scottish football yet. That needs to change.
