The context afaik. They are illegal in the way they are used at football stadiums but not necessarily in maritime emergencies.Originally Posted by ger121
No idea on smoke bombs or cold flares.
Mark Scanlon covered a lot of this on LoI Central last season I think? Maybe the one before last.
The use is what makes them illegal. Not sure what that covers though. I've seen them used at weddings and birthday parties, presumably legally.
They're easily available online. €300 for a box of 100.
Well it's always someone's birthday at a game. Hopefully not too many people's wedding.
Smoke bombs are regulated the same as any firework.
OTH forget about the pitch, someone was badly injured. Its not clutching a the old pearls, its something that was always going to happen, a matter of when not if someone got burnt. Imo if there is significant risk, ground regs ignored on it then its needs a heavy handed response. I dont think the minister was wrong in the context of him sitting there watching things unfold minutes after he cuts the ribbon. I think there is a general backlash at government for much broader issues when the story itself became about comments. You say he turns a blind eye to the league....yeah i probably would too if I wasnt a long term fan with a blindspot!! Talk about playing in to the naysayers hands...Until such time as there is 'safe' pyro, organised or cold flares or whatever than it should be zero tolerance. When people can drink in grounds without risk of lobbing cans at the officials running the line, no drink allowed in to spectator areas, until there is no risk of any crowd misbehaviour we need stewarding, Garda POUs, when South American footballers quit with racist comments we bin laws stopping games, when players cheat we need VAR and on and on. Own worst enemy and if people cant be basic sensible at the very least then they need nannying!! or banned and let the rest of us get on with it.
Last edited by Nesta99; 28/02/2026 at 11:21 PM.
Your last line is exactly my point.
The rest I disagree with. We don't need VAR for example. It's a good example of a bad response to a serious issue. Same as the ministers response to flares.
Punitive measures are needed as a deterrent, sucks doesnt it when the minority ruins things. if there wasnt a clamp down on drink driving 20 odd years ago it wouldnt have become socially unacceptable. Its only one example and there are many that you could add, e-scooters, scrambling bikes, all now needing legislation because there are people who just wont listen and are risking others never mind themselves. I flipping hate j-walking when there is a pedestrian crossing meters away, try doing it in Canada, get a damn good fine, US it could get you deported. Government, football associations et al have had to intervene due to misconduct, betting and diving risked the sport, not to mentiom the 'English Disease'. I am obviously influenced by what I see day to day at work, burns being one of the hardest. If people dont behave expect a backlash. Id rather a rant and legislation than injuries and a roll back on funding and you can absolutely bet that for as long as this government lasts Drogheda United will struggle to get the sort of commitment that Sligo have on new stadium efforts. Bohs need to be careful, Rovers have their ground and can suck up cost of flares but there will be further backlash if problems persist, its is a given not an opinion. Anyway there is little more to be said, Im surprised at the blasé attitude, we can revisit next time someone is burnt.
Not sure you're reading my posts. Or you're certainly interpreting them in a strange way. Implying that I'm somehow ok with someone being burned is a bit much tbh. Drogheda should have taken the action. Criminal charges should have been brought (possibly were in one case?). A minister grandstanding is pointless nonsense and other clubs shouldn't be getting punished. He's now rightly being called out on it and had his "decisions" reversed. Celebrating that type of commentary on the league from a minister and hoping for government intervention is not something I agree with. The clubs have the power to handle it. It's up to them to use it before it's taken out of their hands.
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