Steffen Baumgart, the coach of the Bundesliga soccer club 1. FC Köln, has called for a rethink when dealing with pyrotechnics in soccer stadiums.
“You can’t achieve anything in the football scene with bans – in any stadium in the world. You’ve seen that for years,” the 50-year-old is quoted as saying by “Bild”. “I don’t know if pyros should be legalized in stadiums, but there needs to be a rethink to get that regulated.”
The burning of pyrotechnics is prohibited in the stadiums. Nevertheless, flares and other pyrotechnic objects are used again and again – especially by the ultra scene.
Cologne coach Baumgart confident: “The boys will not stop”
The clubs have to pay fines again and again for pyrotechnics. Most recently, the Federal Court of the German Football Association had confirmed two high penalties against 1. FC Köln with a total of 177,200 euros.
Don’t miss a game of the FIFA World Cup 2022? This TV station broadcasts all 64 games live*
From Baumgart’s point of view, such penalties are of little use. “The boys won’t stop – especially in Cologne. They live out their culture. And fines haven’t prevented a pyro flare.” Baumgart did not make a specific suggestion as to what could be changed.
In 2020 there was an approved pyro test in the second division game between Hamburger SV and Karlsruher SC. Back then, fans had lit smoke pots before the game.