Scottish clubs, including Aberdeen, must hammer hooligans who throw pyrotechnics onto the pitch with life bans.
The use of smoke bombs and flares in football is on the increase and needs to be eradicated now before someone is seriously injured.
A smoke bomb thrown from the Aberdeen supporters’ end at Tannadice on Saturday narrowly missed teenage winger Ryan Duncan.
Aberdeen captain Graeme Shinnie admitted it would have been “catastrophic” had there been contact.
This isn’t isolated to Aberdeen, it is a national problem.
National problem
At the recent Viaplay Cup final fans of both Rangers and Celtic set off flares and smoke bombs at Hampden.
Fireworks were fired in the direction of the pitch in the second half.
A video went viral of a balaclava-clad Celtic supporter shooting fireworks towards the pitch from a six foot hollow pole.
Stewards standing just yards away, looked on.
There needs to be immediate action if the use of pyrotechnics is witnessed.
Or retroactive action via clubs and authorities studying CCTV footage.
And the outcome for anyone found to have fired pyrotechnics at the pitch should be a life ban.
The idiot minority who throw pyrotechnics onto the pitch clearly have absolutely no regard for the safety of players, officials, stewards or fellow fans.
It is reckless, dangerous and selfish.
Since speaking out on Twitter against the use of pyros in Scottish football I have been bombarded with comments arguing in favour of their use.
Many have called for clubs to engage with fans to devise a safe zone within stadia to let off flares and smoke bombs.
The amount of fans who have tweeted on this thread in support of the use of smoke bombs and flares at games, even after their own club publicly condemned it, is both baffling and concerning.@AberdeenFC @dundeeunitedfc #aberdeenfc https://t.co/OoVtPQg9oi
— Sean Wallace (@EESeanWallace) March 6, 2023
The law does not distinguish between smoke bombs, flares or fireworks
It is a ridiculously flawed argument as they are overlooking one glaring point – the use of pyrotechnics at football matches is illegal.
Having pyrotechnics within a sporting ground has been illegal since 1985.
People can now also be prosecuted for having pyrotechnics outside a football ground.
Police Scotland were given additional powers by the Scottish government with new fireworks legislation introduced last year.
The Fireworks and Pyrotechnics Articles (Scotland) Act 2022 gave Police Scotland the further power to search people they suspect may be carrying pyrotechnics en route to a game or outside of stadiums on match days.
The law does not distinguish between smoke bombs, flares or fireworks.
Possession, in, outside or en route to the stadium, can lead to prosecution in court and a potential jail sentence.
There can also be Football Banning Orders and sanctions handed out by clubs themselves.
The affects of smoke bombs
Countless hollow arguments were trotted out on Twitter in support of the use of pyros – although they seem to forget are both illegal and highly dangerous.
Smoke bombs can seriously affect people with respiratory conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and pulmonary fibrosis.
In a recent game at Pittodrie a smoke bomb was ignited in the Red Shed. I was coughing on the smoke at the back of the Main Stand.
I would hate to think what it would be like in the Red Shed for the elderly, young or anyone with respiratory problems.
Smoke bombs are mainly used recreationally in paintballing and war games but are designed to be used in wide open spaces.
Not stadiums with thousands of people packed closely together.
Flares are a major fire hazard and letting them off in a stadium with thousands of supporters is reckless and dangerous
They burn at temperatures of up to 1600°C, the melting point of steel.
Better atmosphere
The argument that pyrotechnics produces a better atmosphere at games doesn’t wash.
There were no flares or smoke bombs when Aberdeen famously beat Bayern Munich 3-2 at Pittodrie or overcame Copenhagen 4-0 when Pittodrie was rocking.
You don’t need pyro to get a stadium bouncing.
You need exciting, winning football and an engaged, passionate fanbase.
If you can’t watch a game for 90 minutes without a pyrotechnic sideshow maybe you should view the highlights at home along with footage of Hogmanay celebrations.
Football should be an environment where parents feel safe to take their kids.
With smoke bombs and flares it isn’t.
No pyro, no party?
No pyro – period.
Season can be salvaged with Europe
From the wreckage of a damaged season, Aberdeen can still somehow salvage European qualification.
Despite a dismal crash in form under former manager Jim Goodwin securing Euro action remains a real possibility.
Aberdeen are just two points off fourth spot, which brings European qualification, and is currently occupied by Hibs.
Credit must go to interim boss Barry Robson who inherited a squad with low confidence having suffered a string of embarrassing results.
Yet somehow he has resurrected the Dons and led them into the top six.
The season may not yet be a complete wash out for Aberdeen supporters.
Overtaking third placed Hearts remains a long shot, but it is not impossible.
It is a rapid turnaround as in late January when Goodwin was sacked the Dons looked like a club sliding into a relegation battle.
Hammered 6-0 at Hibs and 5-0 at Hibs they were a team on the rocks.
Now they appear to be back on track. Aberdeen’s hunt for a new manager continues into a sixth week.
They are right to take their time but there needs to be clarity soon.
One certainty is that Aberdeen’s new manager will not be Chris Wilder who has been appointed new Watford boss.
As the search for a new boss continues there is another certainty- Robson is a safe pair of hands.
Smart fights for the Scottish title
Elgin’s Andrew Smart will fight for the Scottish welterweight title at the Ardoe House Hotel in Aberdeen on Saturday night.
Smart boasts a flawless professional record of six wins from six fights as he bids for the first title in the paid ranks.
He will come up against Robbie Graham who is also undefeated, with four wins from four.
Something has to give with two undefeated fighters clashing. I expect an exciting clash.
Conversation