Fans set off pyrotechnics in German stadiums every week.
Despite the ban.
Politicians welcome legalization.
The sports policy spokesman of the parties provide information.
Berlin/Paris - Beautiful pictures and part of the fan culture or dangerous and unnecessary?
Pyrotechnics polarize.
Ultras set off firecrackers in German football stadiums week after week.
That's not allowed, but the ban fizzles out.
It's similar in France - but pyrotechnics are now to be partially legalized there.
In Germany there is cautious applause from sports policy.
Politicians speak out in favor of legal pyrotechnics: "Part of a vibrant ultra culture"
At the request of
merkur.de,
the sports policy spokesman for the traffic lights and the left are open to legalization.
"I think it makes sense to use pilot projects to test the legal burning of pyrotechnics within defined limits," says SPD politician Sabine Poschmann.
FDP colleague Philipp Hartewig finds “a comprehensive solution for the use of pyrotechnics in stadiums overdue”.
The sports policy spokesman for the Greens, Philip Krämer, says: "The use of pyrotechnics is part of a lively ultra culture".
You have to take note of that and start the debate again.
Linke man André Hahn also has “a priori nothing against the use of pyrotechnics in football stadiums”.
The sports policy spokesman for Union and AfD did not comment on request.
However, the CDU/CSU has spoken out against pyroloosing several times.
So far, the AfD has also not acted as an advocate for the active fan scenes.
France wants to legalize pyrotechnics in experiments - different rules apply in Germany
French politicians recently launched a model project for decriminalization.
The burning of fireworks and smoke bombs should be allowed under strict conditions for three years.
Actions must be registered in advance.
There are also certain monitored areas in the stadium.
Only here is it allowed to be lit - by adults recorded with personal data together with "proof of qualification", as the decree says.
This should increase the safety of stadium visitors.
In Germany, the responsibility does not only lie with politicians.
"The federal government and the Bundestag can only set the framework, clubs and fan clubs have to define the measures that are right for them and implement them consistently," says left-wing politician Hahn.
In addition to the local authorities such as the police, fire brigade and public order office, the German Football Association and the German Football League, which are responsible as organizers, are also in demand.
So far, the associations have been reluctant to comment.
"I have no idea how this should work," said DFL supervisory board chairman Hans-Joachim Watzke last year.
However, certain model projects are already legally possible.
In Chemnitz, for example, politicians, authorities and associations have been in contact for years.
In 2020, Hamburger SV received a special permit for a legal pyro action - and when two Ultras from FC Augsburg died after an away game, the fans commemorated the next game with approved Bengalos.
The traffic light spokesman in the Sports Committee of the Bundestag want to support corresponding efforts on site in the future.
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HSV fans legally ignite pyrotechnics in the game against Karlsruher SC.
The authorities approved the burning, which the fire brigade accompanied.
The attempt was successful, there were no problems.
© Sudheimer/Eibner-Pressefoto/Imago
"Cold pyrotechnics" as an option for legalization?
A crucial hurdle on the way to legal pyrotechnics is the safety aspect.
"The uncontrolled burning of pyrotechnics in football stadiums is dangerous and must not be downplayed," says Poschmann.
In the 2019/20 season, 41 people were injured due to the use of pyro.
Green man Krämer also sees risks, but finds this number manageable.
"Compared to the more than one million people who attend the games on average every matchday, the risk of injury is relatively low."
The Left Rooster is skeptical.
"I have little hope that this will succeed under the premises mentioned." The traffic light parties are more confident.
Experiences from other countries show that fan culture and safety are not mutually exclusive, says SPD politician Poschmann.
However, it must be “exactly checked to what extent the use of pyrotechnics is safely possible in such a context”.
In Denmark, Ultras from Bröndby Copenhagen have already tested so-called “cold pyrotechnics”.
It heats up to 230 instead of around 2000 degrees Celsius, but the fine dust pollution should be higher.
SPD, Greens and FDP can imagine a legalization of "cold pyrotechnics".
They reject firecrackers or the firing of rockets.
"There's no place for something like that in stadiums," Kramer clarifies.
Ultimately, the legalization of pyrotechnics can only succeed in coordination with the clubs' active fan scenes.
To what extent Ultras are willing to compromise here, for example when it comes to the use of "cold pyrotechnics", remains to be seen.
However, fan representatives such as “Unsere Curve” welcome such projects: “Negotiations on the possibility of legalizing pyrotechnics must be resumed,” the club says.
The push from Paris may give these plans a boost.
Andrew Schmid
