"In the past, the Austrian Ombudsman Board criticised the fact that the police had not made use of their right to check visitors for prohibited pyrotechnics at stadium entrances," explains Ombudsperson Schwetz. At a football match in Hartberg at the beginning of March, Rapid fans used these checks as an opportunity to cause a riot. "Conversely, it is also unacceptable that such controls are not carried out for fear of rioting, so that fans can ultimately smuggle prohibited fireworks into the stadium," continues Schwetz.
The problem of pyrotechnics is not mainly the responsibility of the police, but of the football clubs as organisers: "Both FK Austria Wien and SK Rapid have already agreed with the Austrian Ombudsman Board to discuss the club's internal security measures together with the relevant commission and to look for possible improvements," reports the Ombudsperson. In the meantime, she has also instructed the commissions of the Ombudsman Board in the federal states to consider which other football clubs, apart from Rapid and Austria, might have to deal with the problem of pyrotechnics in stadiums. "This could possibly be the case in Graz and Linz. Private football clubs are naturally not subject to the Ombudsman Board's audit mandate. However, we will approach the clubs concerned and ask them to agree to voluntary cooperation with the Ombudsman Board and its commissions," concluded Ombudsperson Schwetz. The Ombudsman Board will provide further information on the further course of events.
Pyrotechnics in the stadium (c) Wikimedia Commons, Chivista