REPRESENTATIVES of the Scottish government, Police Scotland, the SFA, the SPFL and the Football Safety Officers Association met at Hampden on Tuesday to discuss ways to tackle Scottish football’s growing pyrotechnic problem.
The summit was scheduled to take place before Dundee played Rangers in a cinch Premiership match at Dens Park at the start of the month – but the flare display by the Ibrox club’s ultras put the use of fireworks inside grounds across the country at the very top of the agenda.
The top flight encounter, which had already been delayed due to the visitors getting stuck in traffic, was suspended for 18 minutes and all 22 players were taken off the park by referee Kevin Clancy after fire alarms in the Bob Shankly Stand were triggered.
It was far from an isolated incident. Indeed, the next week followers of Motherwell ignored appeals from the authorities and governing bodies not to set off pyrotechnic devices in the stands at a league match with St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park.
So what can they do? Here are five things which they could and should consider.
TALK TO FANS
Supporters should really have had some sort of input into the meeting at Hampden on Tuesday. Those who are responsible for staging games and policing them had their say. So why not those who actually sit in the stands on a Saturday afternoon? Do their opinions not matter?
Fans have much to contribute in this debate. There are many individuals out there who are vocal, knowledgeable and eloquent on this subject. There are a number of well-run and sensible organisations. It would be wrong of the powers-that-be to dictate what needs to be done without consulting extensively with their customers.
A heavy-handed response which fails to take into account the feelings and experiences of ordinary punters would result in an unfortunate backlash and end up doing more harm than good.
EXAMINE SAFE PYRO
It is extremely difficult to see Scotland following the same route as other nations in Europe and around the world and introducing safe pyrotechnic sections at matches in a bid to end the illegal use of fireworks in the stands at matches.
However, that is not to say that the possibility of cordoning off areas inside stadiums where specially trained supporters can ignite approved flares and smoke bombs at agreed times if approval has been received from police and the fire service so should not be explored.
The health and safety issues which such a move would present would be considerable. The legal ramifications, too, would be vast. Would local councils be prepared to award the safety certificates needed for grounds to operate? Furthermore, experts are highly sceptical of just how safe so-called non-toxic, non-carcinogenic and “cold” pyrotechnics actually are as well.
Would the balaclava-clad numpties who are currently responsible for setting off pyro at matches be content to leave their strobes and flash bangs at home? It is doubtful. If anything, they would see it as an endorsement of their actions and could lead to an increase in offences.
Still, nothing should be completely disregarded. Some out-of-the-box thinking is needed, not more strongly-worded statements and increasingly Draconian policing measures. The practicalities and pros and cons of safe pyro should be examined in forensic detail.
WARN OF DANGERS
There has been no campaign highlighting the dangers of pyrotechnics in football since they started to be set off on a regular basis at games in Scotland in the past few years. There should be.
If pictures of the horrific injuries which police, players, stewards and fans had suffered as a consequence of their use were shown on posters around grounds it might, just might, cause supporters to think twice before hurling flares at the pitch.
It could also lead to a far higher level of self-policing than before.
GET TOUGH ON OFFENDERS
If education does not have the desired impact then perhaps punishments will. There are supporters who have been identified, charged and punished, including with football banning orders, for setting off pyrotechnics inside grounds, something which has been a criminal offence since 1985.
However, most of those who light flares or fire rockets in the direction of the park do so safe in the knowledge they will not face prosecution as they have their ultras balaclavas on or have a scarf pulled up over their face.
It would be dangerous in the extreme to wade into a crowd and try to lift someone who is in the act of lighting a pyrotechnic. One official at the Sports Ground Safety Authority last year warned that using fireworks in the stands could cause “a mini-Hillsborough”.
Police Scotland, though, are frustrated at how little clubs are doing to identify the perpetrators and would like to see them make far better use of CCTV footage. Making greater examples of more of those responsible would act as a deterrent.
CLOSE STANDS
Football without fans is nothing. But could temporarily closing down stands for serious pyrotechnics offences have a positive impact? It has done so in the past.
Celtic shut the safe-standing section of Parkhead back in 2017 after flares were set off underneath a banner display at a Hearts match amid fears that Glasgow City Council were not going to award the stadium safety certificate they needed to keep their turnstiles open.
For some time afterwards, the Green Brigade ultras group were on their best behaviour home and away. Their conduct has left much to be desired once again this season and that has led to the group once again being locked out.
But could denying fans the chance to cheer on the team they love force them to seriously think about their actions?
