Embed from Getty Images<\/a>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:’Wss0PSnOQa5IWN74qh6a0w’,sig:’9VleOX4h2vvFqFcsB2rwzXOsRoE97POwU0H0W4Ak_F8=’,w:’594px’,h:’396px’,items:’1235312794′,caption: true ,tld:’co.uk’,is360: false })});<\/p>\n Once again football hits the headlines for all the wrong reasons after a young boy was injured during a recent National League North encounter between Chester City and AFC Telford at the Deva Stadium.<\/p>\n The injuries, although not life-threatening, resulted in the boy receiving medical assistance after suffering an asthma attack due to smoke inhalation caused by flares that were set off due to Brendon Daniels equalising for AFC Telford.<\/p>\n Recently, a safe standing area at Stamford Bridge was introduced as Chelsea entertained Liverpool in a Premier League match, almost 33 years after the fateful Hillsborough disaster which claimed the lives of 97 Reds fans after overcrowding in the Leppings Lane End during the 1989 FA Cup Semi-Final.<\/p>\n This of course led to the introduction of all-seater stadiums in England’s top-flight after the Lord Justice Taylor’s Report. It is also a well-known fact that many of these standing areas house the football fanatics known as ultras.<\/p>\n Embed from Getty Images<\/a>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:’_-rzgTTJQ3xX4q4Trp0BWw’,sig:’7hvqKvR9amp5_O9zRMn-0Uytkmwvxsnk_2DZ7Su3vLU=’,w:’594px’,h:’402px’,items:’1236372220′,caption: true ,tld:’co.uk’,is360: false })});<\/p>\n Some of these ultra-organisations are extremely political and are well known for huge displays at football matches, with nearly all including some kind of a pyrotechnic display.<\/p>\n One of the concerns raised by the police in regards to the safe standing section at Stamford Bridge is the easy access home fans may have to the away section of fans and the fear of uncontrolled behaviour by some of the club’s notorious hooligan element.<\/p>\n However, this is nothing compared to the views shared by Cheshire Police Chief Constable Mark Roberts who went on to suggest “crowds being able to stand may increase in the risk of missiles and other objects being thrown towards not only players and officials of opposing teams but also the travelling fans.”<\/p>\n In addition to this, Roberts went on to say that the safe standing could “engage in hate chanting, racism and of course the high risk of alcohol and drugs including cocaine being smuggled into the stadium.”<\/p>\n Also, in many cases, fans can easily migrate to other sections of the stadium which increases the risk of overloading and the possibility of crushing.<\/p>\n Embed from Getty Images<\/a>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:’eY8J6xtHQEdX6Q3ok524nA’,sig:’EIE7RmMMhbaUCsw7ZeC-yNnRqvEuu_IPdHsiEGnAKxc=’,w:’594px’,h:’392px’,items:’1362994081′,caption: true ,tld:’co.uk’,is360: false })});<\/p>\n Many also share his view regarding these standing sections and the overwhelming affiliation to a section of fans that have become exclusionary. The sheer fear of this could drive away young families from stadium’s, something many clubs have strived to promote over the last 20 years with the introduction of family-friendly areas, and of course, the increased fear of injury during pyrotechnic displays.<\/p>\n Pyrotechnics have become a regular occurrence within football stadiums across European league clubs many of whom encourage it, and in certain environments, support the pyrotechnic displays of which there have been many that have looked.<\/p>\n However, let us not forget these are illegal and extremely dangerous. What happened at Chester City is one of many highlighted incidents where fans or players have suffered injury after the release of pyrotechnics in confined spaces.<\/p>\n Some pyrotechnics incredibly can reach temperatures of 1600 degrees Celsius, the melting point of steel, and will continue to burn even when discarded. With such high temperatures, it is only a matter of time before we actually see more life-threatening injuries and the toxic substances they release can lead to respiratory failure and other breathing difficulties as witnessed at Chester.<\/p>\n Let us not forget there have been fatalities caused directly by flares and\/or smoke grenades.<\/p>\n One such incident occurred when Guillem Lazaro, a 13-year-old Spanish boy, was killed in March 1992 by a flare that struck him in the chest at Espanyol\u2019s old Sarria Stadium in Barcelona during his first-ever visit to a football match.<\/p>\n Other reported incidents where pyrotechnics have led to fatalities include the death of a 14-year-old boy from a flare allegedly launched by Corinthians fans during a South American Copa Libertadores match in 2013.<\/p>\nA young boy suffers from an asthma attack at a Non-League match after away fans set off a pyrotechnic display.<\/strong><\/h2>\n