Integrated Summary of the Copenhagen Safety & Security Workshop & Belgian Pyrotechnics Study
1. Workshop Purpose & Structure
The two-day ESSMA Safety & Security Workshop in Copenhagen focused on stadium safety, pyrotechnics, biometrics, and sustainability, combining expert presentations, interactive formats, and peer-learning sessions.
Content Themes: national/UEFA insights on pyrotechnics, biometric access control developments, and real-world ESG cases.
Format: working groups to stimulate exchange, stadium tour, networking dinner and lunch to strengthen cooperation.
Support: hosted with strong backing from the Danish League, venue staff and corporate partners (Skidata, Showstopper, Dodma Cava, Stadiums Crowd Solutions, Oxea).
Moderation: led by John Beatty, leveraging extensive international football safety experience.
The structure was designed to break silos, enabling participants to share operational and policy challenges and quickly explore potential solutions.
2. Belgian National Study on Pyrotechnics — Key Findings
Presented by Joshua Geertsen, Head of Belgium’s Football Security Service, the study provides the most comprehensive national dataset to date on pyrotechnics in professional football.
2.1 Scale of Pyrotechnics Use
919 matches involved pyrotechnics—40% of all matches across four seasons.
94% occurred inside stadiums; 336 incidents (37%) also took place in the perimeter.
2.2 Enforcement & Demographics
Pyro accounts for 27% of all football-related infringements; sanction rate 87%, higher than the national average.
Stadium bans are the primary sanction.
Offenders are predominantly young: average age 25, with 60% under 24.
2.3 Underreporting (“Dark Number”)
59% of matches with pyrotechnics had no police report, indicating significant underreporting.
Operational interviews reveal victims often avoid reporting due to fear of public exposure.
2.4 Victims & Injury Characteristics
579 recorded victims (likely an underestimate).
Victims average 35 years old;
“Offender-victims” average 27
Innocent third-party victims average 39
Injuries result not only from burns or explosions but also smoke inhalation, reduced visibility, and crowd panic.
2.5 Device Types & Risks
Most frequent devices: Bengal flares and smoke pots—also the main cause of injuries.
High-risk devices (e.g., Cobras) create severe injuries but are less common.
Supporters often obtain pyrotechnics illegally online, unaware of device characteristics or quality.
2.6 Pre-Match Controls
Clubs do not consistently log body-search confiscations.
Stewards have limited authority; innovative hiding techniques reduce detection effectiveness.
Stadium accessibility makes complete searching infeasible.
3. Financial & Operational Impacts
Damage to stadium infrastructure from illegal pyro use totals €675,000 over four seasons (excluding FA fines).
Damage relates to fire risks, smoke contamination, and equipment destruction.
4. Pilot Projects & Safe Pyro Zones
The Belgian Pro League is cautiously exploring controlled pyro pilots with strict regulatory oversight:
Only in strictly defined zones and timeframes.
Requires approval from police and fire services.
Conditions and misuse penalties are still under development.
Insights from France show mixed success: some positive effects, but also an unintended rise in pyro use among non-users.
Hardcore ultras largely reject containment efforts.
Belgium aims to avoid stimulating additional pyro use by maintaining tight controls.
5. Social Dynamics & Stakeholder Reactions
5.1 Rising Social Acceptance
Findings from Belgium’s Football Security Barometer reveal:
Growing glorification and perceived harmlessness of pyro among fans.
Many fans celebrate and record pyro scenes, contributing indirectly to its social legitimacy.
5.2 Limited Behavior Change in Ultras
Factual data and sanctions have not changed core user behavior.
Ultras often dismiss victim statistics and maintain the narrative: “No pyro, no party”.
5.3 Awareness Campaigns
Belgium focuses educational efforts on the non-using majority, rather than trying to change ultra culture head-on:
Campaigns highlight real injury statistics and risks to bystanders.
Objective: shift the “social acceptance” curve by reducing passive support.
6. Policy Implications & Strategic Direction
Belgium’s Football Security Service applies a multi-layered strategy:
Data-driven enforcement: heavy sanctions, coordinated police–club action.
Awareness and education: countering myths and social acceptance.
Pilot innovation: cautiously exploring controlled pyro under strict governance.
Field-informed policymaking: ongoing dialogue with clubs, stewards, police, hospitals, burn centres, supporter groups.
Future contributions: further UEFA-level strategic insights expected from Michael van Praag.
7. Action Items
For Joshua Geertsen
Provide deeper financial damage datasets to interested stakeholders.
Develop strict regulatory conditions and compliance mechanisms for potential controlled-pyro pilots.
Continue targeted awareness campaigning toward majority fans who document pyro use.
Improve data on body searches, confiscations, and interception rates.
For John Beatty
Continue moderating and coordinating workshop sessions, including Michael van Praag’s strategic contribution.
