Safety of Sports Grounds - Flares

[Brian Downes]

Has anyone had experience of hand held distress flares being used by fans on terraces at UK football Stadiums for celebratory purposes?

If so,  what action if any did the Safety Advisory Group take in response?

I gather this is a common problem abroad, as recent press coverage of the AC Milan v Inter Milan fixture has shown, but that it may be a rare occurance at UK Grounds.

The alleged incident recently occurred on a terrace at a modern non league stadium with a safety certificate, on my patch. I understand the flare was probably let off during celebrations after a play off final. 4000+ people were atending the game.


Can any Fire Service members of Football Safety Advisory Groups  advise me on how their groups responded to similar incidents?


Many thanks

[Chris Houston]

I was at the Scotland match at the San siro about a week before this incident (don't even ask me the score!.)

A flare was thrown into our end too, promptly thrown back by a brave Scotsman.  It landed on a plastic seat and reportedly blew it apart.

The police at the stadium, who I witnessed having a beer and a cigarette just before kick-off, were not visible inside the stadium during the match, there were no stewards to be seen either.  Italian fans had managed to get a scooter past security a few weeks before.  

While they ban fireworks, belt buckles, firearms and blades, there is no mention of a ban on flares.

They seems to have the mentality of locking everyone in and letting them get on with it.  They locked the Scotland fans in for about an hour after the end of the match to let the Italians disperse.

[boroboy]

Until recently I was on a SAG for a currently championship team (maybe soon Premier!) for 4 years.  We never had a problem with this I presume because of the relativly close monitioring by CCTV, Police & Stewards.  This is not traditional among UK fans either.  The main suspects likely to cause trouble are certain away fans and they are fairly heavily scutinised.  The usual suspects among the home fans are always under obs from CCTV.  At the smaller clubs where monitoring is not so close there is always this possibility.  There is no easy solution in my opinion unless you search all spectators.
Regarding the San Siro problem, I subscribe to a 'sensible' football magazine.  In last months edition there was an article about problems at Serie A matches.  Apparently it is relatively easy to smuggle flares etc inside the club banners as the police don't search those articles. After the recent champions league incident when a goalkeeper was hit on the head with a flare there has been a huge clampdown and this will have repercussions I suspect.
Hope this helps.

[boroboy]

Just had a further thought on this subject.  Contact the Football Licensing Authority.  They have a member of their team that sit on each clubs SAG.  They have a website with contact details on and should be able to advise you on other incidents in England & wales at least.

[guest 101]

was a member of the safety team for a couple of large stadiums. flares were never a british problem but for european games this was considered a possibility. the safety teams responded to the possible threat by increasing security in the visiting teams end, by providing suitable signage advising flares were banned within the stadiums, where persons were found to be carring such devices they were removed prior to entering the stadium and ensureing the fire stewards were aware how to deal with flares should they be utilised. in three years two flares were operated. the action taken by the stewards was based upon information provided by the coastgaurd who are slightly better informed than the fire authority in this matter. from a practical viewpoint flares are mostly designed to be hand held so the main problems eminate from visual restrictions, poss breathing difficulties and burns. PPE recommended by the coastgaurd included thick gauntlets, suitable eye protection, A bucket and sand.