Flares, frustrations and pitch invasions: why fans have cast shame over English football.

The end of the 2021-22 season in English Football saw a rise in pitch invasions and pyrotechnic displays.

The Daily Mail described the final week of the football season as “Football’s week of pitch invasion shame.” with several games marred by controversy from fans.

Following Nottingham Forest’s victory over Sheffield United in the Championship play-offs, ex-Forest player Billy Sharp was head-butted by a Forest fan after they streamed onto the pitch. Since then, Forest fans have raised over £11,000 to a charity of Sharps wishes as an apology.

After Everton’s 3-2 comeback against Crystal Palace on the 19th of May, fans stormed the pitch in numbers, with pyrotechnics and mocked Palace manager Patrick Viera before the ex-Arsenal midfielder kicked out at the fan.

Although there is a rise, there is no reason why hostilities have heightened.

CHERRY ON TOP: Bournemouth fans flocking to the pitch following their win against Bolton for promotion in 2015. Credit: Pete Green.

When speaking to Mark Bowen, a former police officer who had covered a number of football games in his 11 years of duty between 2003-14, thinks social media is to blame. “The demographic of the people invading these pitches, to me, exclusively seems to be a lot younger than it had been in the past” Mark said, before continuing;

“I think their aim is different. In previous pitch invasions, you used to be able to split them into 2 types; happy and angry pitch invasions.”

Andreas Piastowski, Director of Bonn Police, who organised the policing for the 2006 World Cup in Germany echoed this: “Most football supporters long to celebrate their team for their success. Like in Frankfurt recently, after qualifying for the Europa League final.”

German clubs are punished for these actions as Andreas revealed “In all cases, the National FA fined the clubs for their supporters doing so.”

Mark Bowen, who now works in Football Media with a Champions League club, thinks the rise is due to the fame from viral selfies with players. “It seems like a lot of these pitch invasions are for the whole point of getting a selfie, for filming yourself out on the pitch for ‘clout.’”

PRIDE: An Example of a "Happy" pitch invasion, as Werder Bremen fans pose for pictures on the pitch following their promotion. Credit: Csaba Szekely.

ELATION: Bournemouth fans took to the pitch following premier league promotion in 2015. Credit: Pete Green.

IMPRESSIVE: Tifos and flares are often used by European teams, such as Zenit-Saint Petersburg. Credit: Alfie Lumb

Part of the concern with these antics are the rise of flares and pyrotechnics. Recently, Brazilian footballer Richardson was investigated after throwing a flare following his goal for Everton against Chelsea. Piastowski said there is definitely a danger in the rise of flares saying: “Flares cannot be extinguished by no means on earth, their heat penetrates even the fireproofed firefighter helmets.”

Continuing on the hazards, Andreas said “Their smoke is toxic for humans. In crowded areas you run the risk of serious health injuries and panics.”

Bowen thinks the rise of these displays is due to a continental influence from social media:

“We never used to see flares, it’s a continental thing. I don’t believe they’re interested in football. You see these people on Twitter going on about tifos and ultras."

“In my experience, these people don’t go to football, aren’t interested in football, and they think tifos, ultras, flares are cool and edgy. Now, they grow up, they’ve brought what they’ve seen on social media with them.” He continued.

LISTEN: Mark Bowen reveals why flares are more prominent in stadiums around the UK recently.

PYRO: Flares are often brought into stadiums as a fans way to celebrate a goal. Credit: Csaba Szekely.

GOING UP: Weymouth fans in ecstasy as they secured promotion to the National League South in 2018. Credit: Alfie Lumb

Barriers or fences have been suggested to deter invasions, however there is the worry that this could lead to another Hillsborough stadium disaster. Piastowski said that fences are mandatory in Germany, installed with measures which prevent disasters: “Their height is 2,20 meters by law. Gates, permanently guarded by stewards completes these measures. Those gates are to be opened immediately, if a panic occurs.”

Andreas later said that to avoid the use of fences and barriers, the authorities must empathise with supporters more “That is hard to achieve. As long as there is no rethinking inside the football supporter scene all measures are in vain.”

Bowen regards the modern standard of stewarding as a problem to the rise of invasions, saying “We’ve seen modern stewarding now is very lax. I think the Premier League era of fans, Roy Keane called them the ‘prawn sandwich brigade’, have allowed clubs to take their eye off the ball with regards to stewarding”

“Football clubs have been sleeping on this.” He affirmed.

Another possibility for the rise in invasions, following the rise in living costs in the UK. Gill Hodgson, lecturer in Policing at Lincoln College, thinks there could be some truth behind this: “Poverty can indeed lead to social unrest, and social media is a platform to deliver that faster.”

Hodgson also feels that these invasions are being exacerbated by social media. “ I think social media fuels people's opinions and indirectly lets football fans believe they are acting as others would encourage or approve of.”

Social media has exacerbated the height of pitch invasions. Barriers and better stewarding have been suggested as a deterrent but there is no sign these actions will be introduced.

Werder Bremen fans celebrating following their promotion back to the Bundesliga in May 2022. Credit: Csaba Szekely.

Credits:

Text and Research: Alfie Lumb

Photo Credit: Alfie Lumb, Paul Green and Csaba Szekely

With thanks to interviews from:

Mark Bowen, Gill Hodgson and Andreas Piastowski