"The end of a hypocritical system": lawyer Pierre Barthélémy welcomes the decree on the use of smoke bombs in stadiums

Jean-Baptiste Sarrazin, with AFP 21:12 p.m., March 29, 2023, modified at 21:18 p.m., March 29, 2023

The experimentation of smoke bombs in stadiums until 2025 was specified Wednesday in a decree published in the Official Journal, with the aim of "tending towards the disappearance of the illegal and unsafe use" of pyrotechnic devices by fans. Already permitted by the "sports law" of March 2, 2022, this experiment will be conducted until March 2, 2025 and could then be extended or replaced by "permanent provisions", according to the decree that specifies the modalities.

A decree that will allow the testing of smoke bombs in stadiums was published today in the Official Journal.

The experiment will be authorised from tomorrow and for a period of three years.

(@lequipe) pic.twitter.com/1HOGI9iNdI

— Actu Foot (@ActuFoot_) March 29, 2023

"This is not a legalization of pyrotechnics. It is an experiment by way of derogation so pyrotechnics remains prohibited in stadiums, "said Pierre Barthélémy, lawyer and member of the PSG Supporters Association. Banned in France, the use of rockets or fireworks in a sports arena is regularly subject to disciplinary sanctions in football: every week or so, the Professional Football League (LFP) pins clubs for the use by their supporters of pyrotechnic devices.

"This is a very good thing because it puts an end to a system of hypocrisy where broadcasters were happy to promote images but on the other hand there were stadium bans," said the former follower of the stands of the Parc des Princes. A measure that will allow clubs to regulate this use and avoid sanctions such as matches behind closed doors.

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Specific supervision

This decree specifies under what conditions a pyrotechnic animation can be organized: a detailed request must reach the authorities one month in advance, the animation must be carried out under the control of a qualified fireworks technician and in a specific area, in particular. "A month at the latest before a match, the supporters' group develops a demonstration scheme with their club. The prefecture then has one month to authorize it or not," said Pierre Barthélémy.

Since 2019, several experiments have already taken place in professional football, after the work of the National Supporterism Authority (INS) which brings together the actors of the stands, sport and the authorities under the aegis of the Ministry of Sports. During the 2021/22 football season, fifteen experiments had been validated by the authorities in different stadiums in France.