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Altrincham FC First Team / Re: Throwing stuff on the pitch
« on: March 05, 2019, 06:47:41 PM »What is the law governing smoke bombs and flares at football matches?
The Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol etc.) Act 1985.
It is on offence for a person to enter or attempt to enter a football ground while in possession of a flare,
smoke bomb or firework. The sentence for these offences can be as much as three months in prison,
and in many cases, fans who have no previous convictions are being given prison sentences for
attempting to enter a football ground with a smoke bomb in their pocket as the courts take these
offences very seriously.
There are two different offences (1) possession in the football ground; and (2) possession while
attempting to enter. Although logically, attempting to enter a football ground seems to be less
culpable than a fan who has managed to get the smoke bomb, flare or firework into the football
ground, in real terms the courts do not consider one offence to be more serious than the other. Fans
searched prior to entering the football ground and found to be in possession of a firework, flare or
smoke bomb, have still been given custodial sentences.
Nice to know your copy and paste works, pal.
Every fan is probably worth £15-20 to the club. These lads aren't running terrace battles - OR stood on the terrace gouding away fans through the segregation fence (like Chester). They need reminding (they were told this on Saturday), there's a time and a place for smoke bomb. Chasing promotion isn't one. The same lads that let off the smoke bomb starting their own songs on Saturday, and egged each other on to do so. They'll get the right bug. They JUST got a bit giddy watching their local club. It was probably the best atmosphere (over the last few years) for a while. The older generation forget (I'm not tarring or generalising) they've had a great atmosphere, heroic cup wins and probably got up to far worse things than letting of a smoke bomb.