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| Main / American Football in real life / Flares? Search Forum | |
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| posted: 2026-01-23 05:47:48 (ID: 100196665) Report Abuse | |
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If you go to a football game in Europe, do they have flares in the stands as well?
Is burning flares—at either football or soccer matches—considered dangerous, or is it done in a more controlled way? I’ve always seen flares at soccer matches and have wondered about the safety concerns around them. Steve SD Blitz |
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| posted: 2026-01-23 07:25:29 (ID: 100196666) Report Abuse | |
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Solana_Steve wrote:
If you go to a football game in Europe, do they have flares in the stands as well? Is burning flares—at either football or soccer matches—considered dangerous, or is it done in a more controlled way? I’ve always seen flares at soccer matches and have wondered about the safety concerns around them. Steve SD Blitz In soccer it is strictly forbidden. Some supporter groups, what we called the kops in soccer, often use them. And almost everytime they do it, one of the commentators says "That's really beautiful, look what the stadium looks like", and the other answers "yes but it's dangerous, they should not do this" 
The clubs get fined for this, some supporters can be banned from stadium, and tribune where it happend can even be closed if it happens too often. |
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| posted: 2026-01-23 10:19:47 (ID: 100196669) Report Abuse | |
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Yes, we fans in Europe create the atmosphere in the stadium ourselves. We’re not instructed by a stadium DJ when to cheer or which songs to sing, and there’s no marching band either. Everything comes from the stands, and it’s the fans who decide how the team is supported.
Fireworks aren’t used all the time, but when they are, they’re usually part of a coordinated stand display during the players’ entrance or at the start of the second half. The league is not fond of this, as the smoke interferes with TV broadcasts and they want to present a flawless product. Because of contractual obligations to television partners, the league cannot tolerate delays. As a result, the club is fined for the “misconduct” of its supporters. The club is willing to pay these fines, because it values a great atmosphere in the stadium—and the league and TV partners enjoy the visuals as well. From a legal perspective, in Germany anyone over the age of 18 can legally purchase a maritime distress flare, and it may be used from the age of three. Using such a flare outside of an actual maritime emergency is considered a minor administrative offense and typically results in a fine of around €5. It's a strange situation. Everyone likes it and everyone wants it, but no one can promote it because they could then be held liable. |
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| posted: 2026-01-23 12:57:16 (ID: 100196674) Report Abuse | |
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hmpf22 wrote:
a fine of around €5. We need much more 5 Euro notes to make the stadiums nice again  |
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| posted: 2026-01-23 12:58:42 (ID: 100196675) Report Abuse | |
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To add, those supporters are often called to be member of subcultures from outside viewers, which is often not even remotely true.
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| posted: 2026-01-23 16:20:41 (ID: 100196680) Report Abuse | |
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The Other Side of the Coin
Specific Examples of Accidents During the Bundesliga derby between Schalke and Dortmund, a 30-year-old woman from Marl was struck in the eye by a flare and had to be treated in hospital for splinters lodged in her eyelid. Another spectator was also injured. During the match between VfL Bochum and 1. FC Nürnberg, flares were ignited in the Nürnberg away section, injuring eight people, two of whom suffered severe burns to their legs from the nearly inextinguishable magnesium powder. At the Ostseestadion in Rostock, a nine-year-old boy suffered severe burns when material fell from the roof into the stands during a pyrotechnic display; he had to undergo multiple surgeries in a specialized clinic. A total of four people were injured. During a Champions League match between VfB Stuttgart and Atalanta, a burning flare struck a ball boy in the neck; in addition, a fan suffered burns, and two other people had to be treated for smoke inhalation. Typical Dangers of Flares Flares reach internal temperatures of up to 2,500 degrees Celsius, especially magnesium flares; during their burning time, they are virtually impossible to extinguish and remain a hazard even after they appear to be "burned out." In addition to direct burns, there is a risk of smoke inhalation, acoustic trauma, and panic reactions in the stands; particularly in densely packed standing areas, falling or thrown flares can quickly trigger chain reactions. Experts emphasize that fans often underestimate the risks and romanticize flares as part of fan culture, even though even a single errant throw can cause serious, life-altering injuries. If nothing happens, everything is fine... Otherwise, those affected may be left with a scar on their skin for life. |
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| posted: 2026-01-23 18:46:08 (ID: 100196683) Report Abuse | |
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Wasnt there the idea to create special isles inside the fan stands to fire such things up? Kind of a safety zone?
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