Fan Suffers Injuries from Misfiring Flare
Disturbing footage has emerged from the Netherlands capturing the moment a football fan accidentally detonated a flare, causing serious injury to his hand. The incident occurred outside the stadium prior to the Dutch league final between PSV Eindhoven and Sparta Rotterdam.
The video shows the fan waving the flare around enthusiastically. Suddenly, there’s a loud bang as the flare explodes in his hand. Initially, the man appears dazed but seemingly unharmed.
Reality Sets In
The footage then cuts to a more horrifying scene. The fan stares down at his hand in disbelief, which is now a mangled and bloody mess. Several fingers appear to be severed, and other supporters rush to his aid.
The injured individual, believed to be a PSV fan based on his club scarf, likely missed his team’s victory. PSV Eindhoven secured their first Dutch league title in six years with a convincing 4-2 win over Sparta Rotterdam.
A Reminder of the Dangers of Pyrotechnics
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers associated with pyrotechnics at sporting events. In a separate event, a French Ligue 2 match was abandoned due to fans throwing flares onto the pitch, with players responding by throwing them back into the stands as reported by Sports Buddy.
😡'Merci City!'
🧨Fans of Man City-owned Troyes absolutely lose it as their club nears relegation to France's third tierpic.twitter.com/Khl2wYGG3M
— Football Transfers (@Transfersdotcom) May 4, 2024
Just days prior, England’s Football Association (FA) announced they would investigate Liverpool FC after flares and smoke bombs were used by fans during their Community Shield victory over Manchester City.
Football authorities worldwide are taking a tougher stance against the use of pyrotechnics and pitch invasions. New measures include stadium bans and police reports for offenders. The FA released a statement emphasizing, “The use of smoke bombs or pyrotechnics in a football stadium is dangerous, illegal, and could have severe consequences.”
This isn’t the first time such an incident has occurred. In 2019, a Brazilian fan lost part of his hand while attempting to light a flare, and in 2021, a Rangers supporter was injured by a smoke grenade during a title celebration.
These incidents highlight the importance of prioritizing safety at sporting events.
