Manchester’s children may be used to smuggle pyrotechnic devices into matches as CCTV at a Premier League match captured a young boy handing out fireworks to adults from his rucksack.
The disturbing footage has seen the Premier League, Football League and the FA launch a campaign to see the end of dangerous pyrotechnics.
New research has found that one third of fans have been affected by pyrotechnics, 87% believe they are dangerous and 78% say they want more action taken against users.
The Premier League said: “A disturbing element of increased pyrotechnics has been the involvement of children.
“It is not uncommon for ‘mules’ to bring the pyrotechnics into a ground on behalf of others, and in one incident at a Premier League match last season a child aged around eight was observed aiding those involved in pyrotechnic use.
“The child came into the ground with pyrotechnics in his rucksack and was then seen passing them to members of an adult group who let them off inside the ground.”
Fans could be jailed for the use of fireworks at matches and are being reminded how dangerous they are following the death of a 14-year-old boy by a flare during a South American Libertadores Cup match in Bolivia in February.
Numerous other incidents have seen people injured by smoke bombs including a 15-year-old boy who suffered lung damage in Wigan and a linesman being struck by a firework at an Aston Villa match.
The increased use of flares and smoke bombs in English football has seen eight incidents in the 2010/11 season, 72 in 2011/12 and so far this season 96 incidents.
Policing minister Damian Green said: “Football fans might see images of football grounds in other parts of Europe full of smoke and light caused by pyrotechnic devices and think that they create a good atmosphere, but they do not.
“Flares are very dangerous and can cause severe injuries. We are very lucky that no one has been seriously injured or killed by a flare here for a long time.
“This campaign clearly sets out the dangers of flares and smoke bombs. I want to see the courts taking this problem seriously and dealing in the strongest way possible with fans who still illegally smuggle pyrotechnics into football grounds.”
Nine people have been injured or burned by fireworks thrown at grounds in England in the last 18 months.
Image courtesy of Groundhopping Merseburg via Flickr, with thanks.
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