Fans warned over pyrotechnics

There have been incidences in the UK of people being injured by pyrotechnics at stadia - in one case killed (at a rugby match), and of course there's the potential for hysteria/stampede etc.

Yes it can seem overkill, but whilst I can put up with fans having had a bit to drink, constantly getting up and down to the bogs during a match, I don't want to have idiots letting these things off in a crowded environment. And our away games are always packed, as "we go the game"...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-24931000

I like to visit matches in the UK, Germany, Holland and Belgium. Been doing so for years. Back in the early nineties, I looked up to English football for the atmosphere at the game. This changed over the last 20 years and to be honest I think at least Germany and Holland (and if you pick the right clubs Belgium as well) have more atmosphere at the average league game than the average Premier League match, more singing etc. Might have something to do with ticket prices and standing sections.

Sorry fella but that, in my opinion, is a ridiculous comment.

We are talking about flammable items and as alluded to above, there may be people who are not very mobile and could be in danger of being hit or in the worst case scenario being set on fire because some fucking dickhead fella who hasn't grown up has thrown a sick of fire into the crowd.

Best rocket flare I ever saw was almost 30 years ago today, fired from the old open away terrace at Stamford Bridge during half time when we were playing Chelsea on a Friday night. Landed near the tunnel scattering a good few Chelsea fans as it came down. Funny at the time, but as only 17,700 in the crowd they had room to get out of its way. Wouldn't be the case now.

Controversial I know, but safe standing areas would make a difference. However, those of us old enough to have been to Goodison before it went all seater in 1991 will testify the atmosphere wasn't always much to shout about then either. Then, as now, the occasion is what truly generated an atmosphere. So big cup tie, important league game, derby match etc. A game vs Norwich City for example has never been a hotbed of fervour!

Smoke bombs thrown out of the crowd onto the perimeter area, such as at Spurs the season before last, are no danger, but ones in the crowd as at Anfield a few weeks later are not good.

Maybe the Club could designate a safe flare throwing area! Can't see it somehow!

I guess it's more or less that I see the football experience changing both here and in the UK and for me, it's not a change that I like. It's good that the 'real' hooliganism doesn't occur inside the stadiums anymore, I'll give you that. But it's growing more and more to an experience for the prawn sandwich brigade and a upper-middle-class family event and everything has to be nice. The Disneyland-experience. I always loved the raw atmosphere. But my memory probably erases all the boring matches without any atmosphere and just remembers the outstanding ones.

I'm going off-topic right now but is there any chance that the Premier League/FA will allow standing sections again? In Germany, and on a smaller scale in Holland, numerous clubs have large standing sections that are very, very safe. I can remember reading something about in on ToffeeWeb a few years back but never heard from it again.

I do miss that but I don't miss the feeling of hot bovril being spilled down my back (I hope it was bovril) and taking 15 minutes to go the bog.

Back on point, I just don't see any reason why a relatively sane fan (are there any of us?) would even entertain the thought of bringing a flare to the game.

Safe standing won't even be debated in this country as the implications of Hillsborough are still being addressed.

Standing and Flares; Hillsborough and Bradford... never going to happen.

Yeah, what harm can a flare fired into a crowd of people do? ... I tell you what... it’s political correctness gone mad...

I had that Paulo Di Canio in the back of me cab the other day...