' Getting out of hand Flares/Smoke Bombs in Premier League '

' Getting out of hand, Flares/Smoke Bombs in Premier League '

The Premier League and Football League will be meeting the Authorities to discuss the continual use of Smoke bombs and flares in football grounds.



It is an offence just to carry a smoke bomb or flare outside the stadium or inside if the Police say they feel you were going to use it.

Smoke Bombs, Flares and Football Matches = Arrest, Prison and a Football Banning Order


Sunday 8th September 2013.

Stoke City fan given four-year football banning order after letting off flare at Anfield

Liverpool FC smoke bomb warning after away supporter barred from British grounds


A football fan was banned from all stadiums in Britain for setting off a smoke bomb at a Liverpool FC Premier League match.

Paul Mottram, who ignited a cannister during last month’s Liverpool v Stoke City fixture, won’t be allowed into football venues for four years.

The incident happened in the ground’s Anfield Road away section during the second half of the game on August 17.

Potters’ fan Mottram, from Stoke-On-Trent, was charged after Merseyside Police arrested him on suspicion of possession of a flare.

Smoke plumes enveloped the pitch and strong fumes could be smelt at the opposite end on The Kop.

Mottram, 40, appeared at North Liverpool Community Justice Centre where he was issued with his football banning order.

A Merseyside Police spokesperson said: “This was a dangerous incident which could have had serious consequences and a potential for serious injury at an otherwise trouble-free event.

"It is disappointing that we had to deal with an incident of this kind at the beginning of the season and this type of behaviour has no place in the modern game and will not be tolerated.

"We will continue to work closely with all of our local clubs to make matches safe and enjoyable occasions but when incidents such as this occur we will work together to identify and bring to justice trouble makers, which is exactly what we have done in this case.”

A Stoke City spokesperson said: “As a club we take incidents of this nature very seriously and fully support the issuing of a four-year banning order.”

Mottram was also ordered to pay a £500 fine, £85 costs and £50 victim compensation.

The sentencing comes after a campaign to rid stadiums of flares.

Anfield announcers have made several calls warning fans that they could be arrested for being in possession of flares and other pyrotechnic devices.

A Liverpool FC spokesman said: "Liverpool Football Club is committed to tackling the growing problem of pyrotechnic smoke canisters in grounds; something that has become a concern for clubs across the country.

"Our policy is categorical that such devices are banned from Anfield and have actively sought to discourage their use.

"The ruling will hopefully act as a further deterrent to fans who engage in these activities and remind them of the consequences of bringing them to matches."







' Smoke Bombs, Flares and Football Matches = Arrest, Prison and a Football Banning Order '

Following on from the recent publicity about the use of flares and smoke bombs at football matches, and a lot of queries to my blog about the police powers in this area I have put together a question and answer section on the subject.

Be warned that even though fans may not think that having a smoke bomb or flare in their pocket is a serious offence, the police and football club take it very serious and even a fan with no previous convictions faces a real risk of going to prison…Spread the word to your friends and other fans…

It is not an offence just to carry a smoke bomb or flare outside the stadium, is it?

YES – just carrying a smoke bomb, flare or firework in the area of the football stadium can be an offence if the police can show that you were attempting to enter the ground with it on you. I have seen cases where the police have arrested a fan with a flare as they came out of the train station closest to the ground. The police have argued that as the fan had a ticket for the game, was wearing colors and was with other fans, and was walking in the direction of the ground, that this showed that the fan would have attempted to enter the ground had they not been stopped by the police. That’s not to say that in some cases, the police interpretation of ‘attempting to enter’ shouldn’t be challenged in court, as there must be legal argument that a fan who is stopped at London Bridge Station about to get on a train to a football gound in South London is not ‘attempting to enter’, but the closer the fan is to the ground, the more likely the police will be able to argue that the fan was ‘attempting to enter’.

I won’t be committing an offence if I have a smoke bomb in my pocket in the ground but don’t let it off, will I?

YES – the law is very clear on this point, you don’t have to let it off, just having it on you in the ground is enough for you to be charged with an offence.

I won’t go to prison if I am found with a flare on me, but I don’t let it off, will I?

YES – you may be sent to prison. Recent cases have shown that the courts do not take pity on those found in possession of flares, smoke bombs or fireworks. In fact they are giving severe punishments and fans with no previous convictions are being given 3 months in prison, and on appeal the courts are upholding the 3 months prison sentence. The excuses of “I was just carrying it for a mate” or ‘A mate just gave it to me as we left the ground and i didn’t know what it was” are not being given much credit by the courts. If it is in the fan’s pocket, the fan is guilty and probably will go to prison.

Do the police have the power to stop and search me on the way to the ground to see if I have a smoke bomb, flare of firework on me?

YES – they have powers to stop and search you, and arrest you if they find any of these items on you.

But they can’t arrest me after the game when I am walking away from the ground with the flare in my pocket can they?

YES – if they can show that you were in the ground and that you are likely to have had the flare, smoke bomb or firework in your pocket while in the ground, they can arrest you, and you will probably be charged.

If I am convicted of having a smoke bomb, flare or firework will I also get a Football Banning Order?

YES – the police will probably apply for an Football Banning Order, and due to the nature of the offence, it will be highly likely that the court will consider that the offence was football related. If the court does decide to issue a football banning order, it will likely be for between 3 and 6 years (in addition to any other sentence such as prison).

The police can’t apply for a Football Banning Order on me unless they charge me, can they?

YES – if the police can show that they suspect you of having involvement with flares, smoke bombs or fireworks in the ground or outside the ground just before or after the match, they will probably apply for a civil football banning order which can be imposed even if you are not convicted of any offences.

What is a firework?

Even a sparkler falls within the definition of firework, as do bangers and anything else that has a firework logo on it.

What is a smoke bomb?

Anything which emits smoke or visible gas, even something which is home made.

How will the police know that I have the flare or smoke bomb on me?

In addition to the general powers of stop and search, the police will be checking the fan forums and any known fan groups which discuss the use of flares, smoke bombs or fireworks will be targeted by the police, and will likely be stopped and searched. In addition, the stewards in the ground have the powers to search and if they find a flare, smoke bomb or firework, they will tell the police.

In general, if there is one thing that the police and courts are very hot on at the moment it is flares and smoke bombs. Carry one and you are very likely going to face time in a police cell…and worse…time in a prison cell!

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The law is all wrong IMO. This is ridiculous IMO I don't see no harm in flares & smoke bombs at am football match I think it creates a good atmosphere.

can anyone provide evidence of somebody jailed for carrying one and not letting it off? find that hard to believe tbh

3-6 year ban and a prison sentence for taking a sparkler (which falls under the definition of firework) into a football stadium. This country has gone mad.

The law is all wrong IMO. This is ridiculous IMO I don't see no harm in flares & smoke bombs at am football match I think it creates a good atmosphere.

^This

can anyone provide evidence of somebody jailed for carrying one and not letting it off? find that hard to believe tbh

Haven't got a link but a Chelsea fan was jailed for taking a smoke bomb into Swansea.

can anyone provide evidence of somebody jailed for carrying one and not letting it off? find that hard to believe tbh

Haven't got a link but a Chelsea fan was jailed for taking a smoke bomb into Swansea.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales ... ng-2504099

You don't argue about not being able to take bottles into the ground so why argue with this.

Pyrotechnics are clearly dangerous and I can see why they're banned.

I don't think there's anything wrong with them, I think they need to chill out.

Anyone who brings them in are stupid though because everyone knows the consequences.

Flares/smoke bombs are great, the more the better

Love flares. I'm the notorious Brighton fan who lets them off at our games. Let 3 off at Peterborough in 2004 and ran a mock and got arrested and got a small fine and no ban. Done the same again at Peterborough the other year and got away with it. Done it at Palace and wall and still got away with it.

CCTV and I'm smater than that wank intelligence.

Smoke bombs and flares are great.

the fire at bradford city is a good enough reason to ban them

The lads who let a rocket off after the Wales Vrs Romania game thought the country had gone mad... No sorry that was the family of the innocent man that died that evening.

Grown up aged 45.....

the fire at bradford city is a good enough reason to ban them

[color=#4000BF]News flash old wooden stands are no longer in use. Newsflash coloured smoke will not set fire to concrete. In fact it wont set fire to anything. Bloody do gooder color]

the fire at bradford city is a good enough reason to ban them

That wasn't flares.

the fire at bradford city is a good enough reason to ban them

Yeah because smoke bombs cause huge fires, especially in stadiums made on concrete and metal

I don't think there's anything wrong with them, I think they need to chill out.

Anyone who brings them in are stupid though because everyone knows the consequences.

Yes they are fine if they are set off by anybody that got asthma or a bad chest glad they are banned

I don't think there's anything wrong with them, I think they need to chill out.

Anyone who brings them in are stupid though because everyone knows the consequences.

Yes they are fine if they are set off by anybody that got asthma or a bad chest glad they are banned

Well there's an easy solution, cover your mouth and nose. Doesn't seem to be a problem in Europe.

I don't think there's anything wrong with them, I think they need to chill out.

Anyone who brings them in are stupid though because everyone knows the consequences.

Yes they are fine if they are set off by anybody that got asthma or a bad chest glad they are banned

Well there's an easy solution, cover your mouth and nose. Doesn't seem to be a problem in Europe.

That's the sort of answer I would expect from you, and we are in Europe

I don't think there's anything wrong with them, I think they need to chill out.

Anyone who brings them in are stupid though because everyone knows the consequences.

Yes they are fine if they are set off by anybody that got asthma or a bad chest glad they are banned

Well there's an easy solution, cover your mouth and nose. Doesn't seem to be a problem in Europe.

That's the sort of answer I would expect from you, and we are in Europe

The most obvious answer, yes, but there's people like you who don't use their brain.

You know exactly what I mean but in case you didn't quite get it, I'm talking about Central/Eastern Europe.

I don't think there's anything wrong with them, I think they need to chill out.

Anyone who brings them in are stupid though because everyone knows the consequences.

Yes they are fine if they are set off by anybody that got asthma or a bad chest glad they are banned

Well there's an easy solution, cover your mouth and nose. Doesn't seem to be a problem in Europe.

That's the sort of answer I would expect from you, and we are in Europe

The most obvious answer, yes, but there's people like you who don't use their brain.

You know exactly what I mean but in case you didn't quite get it, I'm talking about Central/Eastern Europe.

You said Europe, don't try to dig your way out, if you meant Central/ Eastern Europe just say it in the first place

I don't think there's anything wrong with them, I think they need to chill out.

Anyone who brings them in are stupid though because everyone knows the consequences.

Yes they are fine if they are set off by anybody that got asthma or a bad chest glad they are banned

Well there's an easy solution, cover your mouth and nose. Doesn't seem to be a problem in Europe.

That's the sort of answer I would expect from you, and we are in Europe

The most obvious answer, yes, but there's people like you who don't use their brain.

You know exactly what I mean but in case you didn't quite get it, I'm talking about Central/Eastern Europe.

Jon, you are in the wrong you plonker, you said Europe

I don't think there's anything wrong with them, I think they need to chill out.

Anyone who brings them in are stupid though because everyone knows the consequences.

Yes they are fine if they are set off by anybody that got asthma or a bad chest glad they are banned

Well there's an easy solution, cover your mouth and nose. Doesn't seem to be a problem in Europe.

That's the sort of answer I would expect from you, and we are in Europe

The most obvious answer, yes, but there's people like you who don't use their brain.

You know exactly what I mean but in case you didn't quite get it, I'm talking about Central/Eastern Europe.

Jon, you are in the wrong you plonker, you said Europe

You guys are f*cking idiots

I think they're a pain in the arse and I'd be right pissed off if some tw*t was waving a flare or smokebomb around next to me...

I don't really see what they add to the atmosphere epsecially when your in the stands. They might look 'pretty' on TV but chanting and getting behind the team as much as possible creates a good atmosphere IMO.

Either way, it doesn't really matter, the law is the law and if you bring them in you deserve a ban for being an idiot.

Love flares. I'm the notorious Brighton fan who lets them off at our games. Let 3 off at Peterborough in 2004 and ran a mock and got arrested and got a small fine and no ban. Done the same again at Peterborough the other year and got away with it. Done it at Palace and wall and still got away with it.

CCTV and I'm smater than that wank intelligence.

Smoke bombs and flares are great.

this post made giggle

The people who bring them are "look at me" wannabees - well yeah I hope the CCTV does look at you and get you banned.

Flares/smoke bombs add NOTHING to the atmosphere of the fans but does ADD to the general atmosphere insomuch you can't f******g breathe.

Ban any idiot who brings them in

The people who bring them are "look at me" wannabees - well yeah I hope the CCTV does look at you and get you banned.

Flares/smoke bombs add NOTHING to the atmosphere of the fans but does ADD to the general atmosphere insomuch you can't f******g breathe.

Ban any idiot who brings them in

Western Europe and especially the UK have moved on considerably.

The Wannabees are the same group who believe football is the preserve of 16 ~ 40 year old white working class males.....

During the 80's the English first division was appalling.The ground were shit,attendance much lower, fans regularly died or were seriously injured. The modernisation of the game coincided with the premier league, it is now the most affluent league in the world.
The new civilised fans don't liked to be pissed on, rained on, beaten up or be gassed........... Simple really.

We have some old men on this thread

Anyone see any flares/smoke bombs when we beat Man City 3-2?

Nope.

It's a lie. They just give you a five second rush then it's all taken away when the stewards come up and take the one responsible for it.

If people like them so much, go to more foreign games