Ok football, here it is. We need to talk about flares. We need to get it out in the open where the issue can be talked about openly and honestly.
Except cross-code baiting, nothing seems to illicit more passion on the Roar than the issue of fans lighting flares.
You are either for it or against it, and anyone seeking to find a compromise seems to get shouted down. The lighting of a flare (even if it is just one) usually gets top billing on prime time sports news, overshadowing the quality on the pitch.
This leads to a chorus of complaints that the ‘soccer knockers’ are out to demonise football and make it seem foreign or a game only for outsiders.
This basic story gets repeated over and over again.
I personally do not like flares at a football match. The first and most obvious reason is that they are unsafe and highly dangerous.
It will not take long before someone is badly burnt or injured if they keep being lit.
Much more important though is the message it sends. I love the game of football, but whenever I see a flare, my mind just thinks of one word ‘trouble’.
Families in Australia who want to engage in football and take their kids along to a game see flares and instantly think something bad will happen. It is not part of the Australian sporting culture and although we import a lot of our cultural ideas from abroad, we shouldn’t accept this one.
I know a lot of bloggers will cringe at my mention of families, or the attempt to make football ‘family friendly’.
I remember one person came up with the intelligent response that football should be appealing to young men (not families) as they will more likely spend their money on attending a match and merchandise.
It however misses the equally valid comeback point that the game is trying to build generational support into its clubs, so that going to see the Wanderers, Mariners or Glory is no more different or strange than attending a Collingwood or Rabbitohs game.
Getting children to attend a game is vital in this process as they will literally ‘grow up’ with their clubs. Having a safe environment for them to watch a game is paramount.
A lot of supporters of flares also use the ‘active fan’ response. That football culture requires fans to be active and sing and wave flags and light flares.
But doesn’t it take away from the action on the pitch? And isn’t that why we are actually there…to watch a game of football? I never want what’s happening in the stands to take away from what’s happening on the ground.
To me the use of flares is a lighting rod for those people who love nothing better than to have a dig at football. Genuine fans need to stand up to idiots and make them see they are hurting the image and game we all love and want to see succeed.
Flares. We don’t need them.
Tristan
Guest
What bubble are you living in Robbie, a 14 year old boy at a Corinthians game died 3 days ago due to a flare. Late last year the Dynamo goalkeeper was hit by a flare during the match and came close to blinding him. If you want to leave the realm of football then lets look at the soundwave concert last night.
Lucan
Google it, you'll find plenty of examples. ;)
Robbie
Guest
I have NEVER in my life heard of a player or fan being injured by a flare. You get dozens of flares being tossed around at matches in Europe each game and yet there have never been reports of players or referees or fans being hurt. I am not here to protect those who wish to bring flares to A-League games I merely want to say that I enjoy the atmosphere they help to create
Lucan
You failed to mention those fireworks are set off by professionals, and at a distance from the athletes and paying public the professionals deem safe. Holding flares is dangerous. I've too many football shirts with burnt dots from goofs holding flares around me. I've seen people cop this sort of debris in the eye. Not a pretty site, not comfortable, not safe, not welcome.
Edo
Guest
The brainless idiots who persist with throwing flares in football in my book are the same that the irresponsible iditos who light fires on days of total fire ban. One wonders what is with the iditos who think that because in Europe flares are common, we supposed to have them here too. In Europe there are riots in football, should we have them here too because some brain dead drongo in this country decides that in Europe is a common occurrence? To the flare lighting morons who hide amongst crowds to throw flares I say, you are just like a common thief, who is happy to steal while nobody is watching. I am a football fan first and a club supporter and in fact a member, and I have been since the A league started. As far as I am concerned I hope that security really clamped down on flare throwing yobos and if I see one, I will be the first one to get Police or Security onto the moron
oikee
Guest
Yes, i put my 2 cents worth in not long ago and mentioned that it wont be long before off-feild incidents overtake the action on the pitch. If and when Parra stadium burns to the ground, the Wanderers will be looking for a new dig.
Damiano
Guest
Flares are illegal and dangerous. From a Occupational Health & Safety perspective, there is no reasonable control of the risk by having a spectator hold a flare or do anything else with it. Football needs to be accessable for everyone who comes. Flares are illegal abroad as well. They are certainly illegal in Italy, UK, Spain, Germany and probably elsewhere, so we are consistent here with what happens overseas. Besides, aren't flares a bit passe these days? I thought the novelty had gone some time ago.
thinker
Guest
In 30 - 40 degree dry heat you shouldn't be lighting anything.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
In some sports, after a score: * they let of fireworks, or * girls who are working towards a career as a stripper will wiggle around. In football, flares are sometimes lit after a goal. But, lighting flares at football matches in AUS is illegal. However, if it were decided to allow flares to be HELD - not thrown, but HELD - by people in the active supporter bays, I see no issue at all.
Martyn50
Roar Rookie
I agree totally with what you say. Problem is the "fools" and any other noun that can be used is wasted here as those people would not be on a web site such as this. A high majority of readers on here are sporting passionates,
langou
Roar Guru
What a load of hogwash I suggest you try spending a few games in the outer. What you will find is supporters who are equally passionete about the game and their team. Who are there each week, dressed in colour cheering for their team. These people don't rock up because of 'active supporters'. You really think you are blessed with such wit and singing abilities that we would pay $30 to be entertained by you blokes. Active supporters add to the atmosphere and are great for the game but so are the other thousands of people who prefer to support from the sidelines
langou
Roar Guru
Great article. I agree with everything said
Atawhai Drive
Guest
I've seen a couple of flares thrown in the A-League this season, at a couple of grounds. They didn't cause much of a stir. Neither did the streaker at Sydney FC's last home match. Familiarity diminishes the impact of that which was once considered shocking. Ideally, there would be no flares at football matches. They add nothing to the spectacle. But I expect the culture of lighting and throwing flares to quietly fade away and die, like the flares themselves.
nordster
Guest
its hardly a case of wanting a constant procession of flares to 'watch' instead of football...but a couple of times a year, at the right moment, it does complement the atmosphere on the pitch. No doubt...and of course what is on the pitch contributes more to atmosphere. Far too much hyperbole around them when it comes to safety worries...as long as they are not thrown there is little problem with them...punish the throwers hard by all means. There seems to be an effort to build this narrative that they are this huge threat or that the only people who like them are total knuckle draggers. Thats the sort of hyperbole that makes some folks like them even more...stop overstating the issue...if it gets dropped in an aisle no harm done, move on and dont escalate from a security standpoint especially. All that being said, i do think theres only a minority of home supports that seem to like them in this league. Im not suggesting they should be mandatory lol as clearly they dont fit all clubs and areas at a ground.
Reynoldsinski
Guest
Don't understand supporters like you. If you are watching flares going off in the crowd, then you are not watching the game. The atmosphere should come naturally based on what is happening on the pitch.
Football United
Guest
So sick of the families pandering. I like flares as i have seen first hand how much they can create an extraordinary atmosphere in europe, but that's in europe. Here they are illegal and until that changes, we can't have them end of story. However there needs to be a change of thinking to just families families families. Young people are the ones who are attracted It is the active support who draw the attention of newcomers to the game, it is the active support who create that extra element to drive on the players, it is the active support who will put thousands of dollars into the club or supporting it, travelling land and sea. A family might not even turn up next week.
Kasey
Guest
Been an AU member for 10 years, never thrown one flare, thrown one punch or voluntarily missed a home game, never had one issue with security. I love my club, don't understand the mentality of the fools who equate passion with pyro. No flares = no problem. If you bring them to games be prepared to find out that the vast majority of fans in the league are of a similar mind to me and will have no hesitation in pointing your stupid arse out to the security goons so you can get what's coming to you..a lengthy time away from the live game to think on your actions and how stupid they are.