Football league boss demands tougher penalties for flare throwing
Published: Saturday, May 4th 2024, 10:10
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The managing director of the Swiss Football League, Claudius Schäfer, is calling for tougher penalties for throwing flares. Anyone who throws pyrotechnics at people should face an unconditional prison sentence.
"We want tougher penalties for those who are clearly not teachable. That's where we need to start," said Schäfer in an interview with Blick on Saturday. Such acts are a threat to life.
Schäfer also reiterated his criticism of the so-called cascade model, which the cantons want to introduce against the will of the clubs and leagues. Sector closures have been proven to have no effect on fan violence, he criticized. They only lead to evasive movements and the solidarity of moderate fans with chaotic supporters.
The background to the discussion about throwing flares includes riots at the Cup match between Winterthur and Servette last Sunday. Supporters of the Geneva club had rioted before, during and after the game. Dozens of them stormed the pitch after the match, with some throwing pyrotechnics into the stands. They hit one person with a flare. No one was injured.
These brightly glowing hand flares are actually designed to draw attention to themselves in distress at sea. According to the online encyclopaedia Wikipedia, they burn at temperatures of up to 2000 degrees.
The two clubs will meet again in the Super League on Saturday - this time in Geneva. Due to the riots last weekend, the authorities decided on Tuesday that the north stand of the "Stade de Genève" will remain closed for the match.
©Keystone/SDA
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