ULTRAS, NOT CRIMINALS !
Recent events involving the Ultras of Sporting Charleroi have inspired us to write this article. In recent weeks, several decisions have marked a hardening of repression against certain groups: arbitrary stadium bans, targeted sanctions, all of which illustrate a policy hostile to active stands.
In a statement, RCSC accuses certain groups (Storm Ultras 2001 and BLOCK 22 in particular) of hijacking Tribune 4, their historical place in the stadium, and of abusing pyrotechnic devices. The Storm responded through a statement, in which they accuse the club’s managers of using certain incidents to mask their own sporting shortcomings.
Recently, it was the Ultras of Standard who were denied a tifo, due to “inadequate visuals”. Months of work thrown away.
A year ago, it was the Malines police who refused a ‘Red Dead Redemption’ tifo for incitement to hatred, even though it depicted a video game available for free sale.
Do Belgian clubs still want active stands, or are they trying to impose the Premier League model, a passive consumer audience?
The Football Law, an increasingly repressive security tool.
Repression against supporters is intensifying throughout Belgium, particularly with the 1993 Football Law, which was toughened in 2023.
This law includes:
- Stadium bans, decided by the SPF Interior, often by officials who have no knowledge of stadium culture.
- Heavy administrative fines, which reached €890,350 last season.
- Collective responsibility of supporter groups, who can be sanctioned even in the absence of proven individual acts.
This law is not logical. It equates violent actions with festive acts like the use of pyrotechnics, which is regulated in some countries. This outdated approach prevents any dialogue and reduces the Ultras culture to a security problem, whereas it is just about the passion a group can have for its favorite club.
Unlike judicial decisions, these penalties are applied without a fair trial and based on questionable police reports. This places supporters in a position of defenseless accused and increases their distrust of authorities.
Legalization of pyros, really?
We polled our 21,000 subscribers. We mainly offer content based on the spectacles offered by the stands, so we assume that the people who follow us are concerned, closely or distantly, by the ultra movement.
Three questions were asked in a survey:
Do you want pyros to be legalized?
yes – 91% (2504)
NO – 9% (260)
Although a large majority are in favor of legalizing pyro, we note that the 9% are mainly active members of the Belgian and European scene.
If a pyroshow is authorized by your club and the police, would you agree to give your identity and follow certain rules?
yes – 60% (1507)
NO – 40% (989)
This response is more contrasted. No Ultra worthy of the name would agree to give their ID to express their passion.
They are for:
– ” Pyros should be allowed because they add another dimension to the game, but don’t throw them on the pitch.”
– ” Like when submitting a request for a tifo, one could make a request for a pyroshow.”
– ” Ensure that no one is injured and follow specific rules.”
– ” 1 Identification for 10 pyro users.”
– ” Yes, legalize it!”
– ” They could allow the use of pyro in certain parts of the stadium.”
– ” Some group members follow training with firefighters.”
– ” With a license, a detailed plan in advance and explained to the club.”
– ” Let the club know that you are going to use pyro, they can plan for medical and security staff.”
– ” I think that with collaboration between clubs and groups, a solution can be found.”
– ” Allow the material, if it is controlled.”
– ” If they listen to the Ultras, it’s OK.”
They are mixed:
-” I don’t like the idea of letting the club manage. Ultras must keep their creative freedom.”
– ” Not for identification, but following some rules… That’s okay.”
– ” It must be controlled by the Ultras, according to certain safety rules, but no names.”
– ” I want it to remain illegal, but tolerated!”
– ” Legalize, regulate, but not just anyhow.”
– ” It requires a lot of trust between the club and the Ultras.”
– ” Some people should be allowed to do it, but not the idiots who throw at innocents.”
– ” Follow some rules, OK, but giving your ID, no. Always more control, but less freedom.”
– ” Indicate what type of pyro, how many, when, at what position, OK. NO ID.”
They are against:
-” Everyone would do it, it wouldn’t be special anymore.”
-” If it’s legalized, it removes the commitment that the group places in the show. Otherwise, anyone can do it. What makes some groups special? It’s the number of guys who are ready to take the risk! Imagine a small club doing a pyroshow like Legia could do… It’s also a representation of how big your group is.”
-” It shouldn’t be legal but decriminalized, the fact that it’s not legal reinforces the exceptional image that is a flare-up. Giving your ID even less, no ultra would give it to crack. A flare-up is art, testosterone, and a lot of adrenaline, and that’s what makes it beautiful.”
-” It will never be, ACAB.”
-” No need. The adrenaline of not getting caught is what makes it special.”
-” Authorized pyro loses all its charm.”
-” A large part of the beauty of a pyro show is the forbidden.”
-” Legalization would take away everything from the shows. The adrenaline, the feeling you get when everything takes place. I would no longer take part in a pyroshow if it’s fully allowed.”
-” Illegal, always better with balaclavas.”
-” It’s not very interesting if it’s legalized.”
OUR OPINION
A very large number of people think about framing but we are convinced that it is necessary to trust the groups to manage the shows they offer. The spontaneity of a flare cracked after a goal, during the end of a match to push the team to achieve a result, are feelings that give another dimension to a match. On the other hand, why not decriminalize the use of pyrotechnics, as long as no incident is related to it? Why not create a victim assistance fund, rather than imposing fines?
But why is pyro illegal?
The Football Law of 1993 was implemented following the Heysel Drama and notably to eradicate the phenomenon of hooliganism. 32 years later, the distinction between Ultras and Hools is still complicated for the general public.
The changes made on June 19, 2023, are primarily aimed at pyrotechnics:
- ART. 3.1 The organizer of a football match takes the necessary measures to prevent, before the opening of the stadium to the public, the irregular presence in the stadium of pyrotechnic objects intended to produce glows, smoke or noise;
- ART 3.2 To prevent irregular introduction, into the stadium, of pyrotechnic objects intended to produce glows, smoke or noise;
- ART 3.3 To prevent the introduction, into the stadium, of objects that are intended to escape identification.”
- Art. 4.7 Raise awareness among supporters about the prohibition, do not encourage the use of pyrotechnics by supporters, and develop and implement concrete actions to discourage the use of pyrotechnic objects.
- Art. 9.4 “Anyone who facilitates the use of pyrotechnic objects may incur one or more sanctions.”
- Art. 11.8 “An administrative fine of one thousand euros and an administrative stadium ban of two years for anyone who handles, is in possession of, or introduces a pyrotechnic object, provided that the introduction or possession occurs in the stadium or within its perimeter.”
It is worth mentioning that this law allows for sanctions without judgment. It is not arbitrary.
What sanctions?
For the 23-24 season, it is:
– 1194 PVs were written under the Football Law. This is an increase of 13.5% compared to the previous season.
– The average duration is 16,930 months of stadium ban. +40%.
– The average administrative fine increased by 40%. Total: €890,350.
Top 3 offenses:
1. 38% – Incitement to hatred or violence (-9.2% of PVs written compared to the previous season)
2. 26% – Pyrotechnics (+22% of PVs written compared to the previous season)
3. 20% – Throwing objects or projectiles (-10% of PVs written compared to the previous season).
According to the IBZ website:
“The figures of the sanctions of the SPF Interior show that the new football law has a clear effect. Never before have such severe sanctions been pronounced for violence and vandalism in football as in the past season. As a government, we are thus sending a clear signal. We must keep attention to safety in football at the top of the political agenda, even in the next legislature.”
While the figures illustrate a stricter repression, prevention remains an essential component of security policy.
The project carried forward is awareness of pyrotechnics in Belgian professional football, via a prevention campaign. 2 clubs will be selected (maybe, one day, in the future, who knows…). The amount invested in this campaign: €340,000, with financial support for burn patients.
€890,350 – €340,000 reinvested in prevention. The government’s lack of long-term vision is reflected in an inconsistent policy, where repression takes precedence over prevention. The authorities justify this law by security imperatives, but the figures show that the solution is certainly not the Football Law. We see this every week with increasingly crazy choreographies.
security
And what about security? In Belgium, one cannot say that the press reports many accidents, and these accidents mainly occur in amateur divisions. The groups from the higher divisions are very serious.
Only 1 incident has been reported in the press in recent years, and 2 incidents in amateur divisions.
Unfortunately, no other statistics are available.
AWARENESS
Awareness is important to us, which is why we would like to give you some tips for good use of pyro:
– Use good material,
– Protect your face and hands,
– Protect people around you,
– Firecrackers are cool but not in public,
– Avoid alcohol,
– Think about people who are less used to it,
– Never look towards a firework that doesn’t ignite,
– Keep your torch away from people’s faces nearby,
– Be aware of your surroundings.
A torch can reach up to 1600°C. It must be handled with great care.
Europe and elsewhere
france
Our neighbors have created a new law so that supporter groups can have framed pyroshows. We have already attended one of these animations in Amiens and what we can say is that it does not have the same flavor.
Here are the rules of this law:
– The decree of March 28, 2023, authorizes and frames the pyro in an experimental framework until 2025.
– For stadiums with a minimum of 1500 people.
– Only for professional championships.
– In certain parts of the stadium, predefined and physically delimited by barriers.
– Only torches, strombos, and smoke pots are allowed. Fireworks prohibited.
– Under the responsibility of a person holding a certificate issued by the prefect.
– The actors must be adults and identify themselves.
If all these conditions are met, a request for authorization must be addressed to the prefect, in consultation with the supporter group, the club, and the stadium owner.
The request must be introduced at least one month before the facts with the following mentions:
- Detailed plan,
- First name, last name,
- and date of birth of the actors,
- Planned emergency measures,
- Commitment of the responsibility of all actors.
germany
What is happening in the European country with the largest stadium culture?
In 2023, the German professional league authorized the Ultras of Hamburg for the controlled use of pyrotechnic objects during a match against Karlsruhe. This project was not pursued further.
According to Bild, the German Federation is considering a project to authorize pyro. The first rules would be to be of age, sober, and identifiable (no hood). At least, they respect the non-identification which is essential for the Ultras.
norway
Norway is a pioneer in the field. You cannot use pyro during a match, but before and after, it’s totally OK. The methods depend on each club. For example, at Valerenga, the supporters distribute flyers to inform supporters that there will be smoke. If you don’t like the smoke, you can contact the SLO to change your place in the stadium. The club is informed, and so are the firefighters.
The atmosphere has been improved according to the locals. This also helps fill the stadiums.
austria
In 2015, some projects saw the light of day. Rapid received permission to crack, 4 times per matches and after each goal. Unfortunately, the Police managed to find dubious reasons to impose fines and everything fell through.
italy
The DASPO (Disqualification from Access to SPORTS Events) is a legal instrument that allows authorities to ban supporters from accessing stadiums for a certain period. For 1 pyro on you, you will take 4 years of ban.
sweden
In Sweden, football authorities are giving up on imposing financial penalties on clubs, and although several projects have been introduced, nothing concrete for now.
South America
In South America, smoke bombs are not allowed. The major difference is in the sanctions, which are never personalized, it is done via closures of stands.
UNITED STATES
In Orlando’s stadium, their supporters have a “SMOKE DEVICE AREA,” where they are allowed to use pyro, obviously under conditions.
Australia
The FFA is reportedly planning to create legal measures to allow supporter groups to offer legal and safe smoke machine shows.
conclusion
Groups are not asking for the creation of a legal framework but for fewer sanctions and more consistency in repression, which is a total failure: it does not reduce the use of smoke bombs but creates situations of tension whose consequences are regularly disproportionate.
Football without Ultras loses a large part of its essence. These groups are never perfect, but their love for the badge and their dedication are undeniable. By marginalizing them, we risk transforming the stadiums into sanitized places, where passion is replaced by a cold and commercial spectacle.
Because a silent stadium is not a secure stadium, but a dead stadium.
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GHCOMPANY