Are organized flares a solution for the A-League?

Tomorrow night, millions of Aussies across capital cities and regional centres alike will gather to bear witness to organized fireworks displays.

And why wouldn’t they?

They look cool, the kids love ‘em and when properly organized, they are safe, too.

Last Saturday night, over 25,000 at Telstra Dome were treated to a pre-game flare stemming from the Blue and White Brigade, accompanying the message “welcome to hell.”

Now usually, the appearance of a flare at a football match brings about widespread condemnation. Especially in this country.

Yet peculiarly, that was not the case on Saturday night.

The SEN commentary team noted it was an intimidating way to start the game. Two years ago, they would’ve been the first to criticize the “minority” of supporters who don’t have the best interests of the game at heart.

Other Victory supporters at the game noted that the display looked impressive and sent a strong message of support, whilst at the same time trying to not condone the act.

Despite the FFA’s best efforts, flares still remain a part of crowd behaviour at A-League games. All three matches between Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory (in both cities) this season have featured flares.

In addition to media outlets and supporters, it can be argued that even the FFA has cooled their stance on the issue. The supporters’ code of conduct is nowhere to be found on the A-League website these days. We’re also not hearing any public statements on the issue after matches.

So have the FFA – and indeed the wider community – accepted flares as a fact of life?

Have they become so prevalent that we’ve given up on condemning and eradicating them?

If that is indeed the case, then we’re all running a pretty big risk. They are dangerous. There is a significant public safety risk. And (now here’s one for the ever-sensitive FFA) they carry negative connotations.

Rather than letting the status quo evolve into something more dangerous, we should start to seek out new and different solutions.

Given the fight so far has been to no avail, perhaps the next attempt to combat flares should set about managing the problem, not continuing the frivolous dream of removing the problem altogether.

Which brings us back to the fireworks. Organized fireworks displays enable everyday Aussies to safely enjoy an otherwise-illegal activity.

So why can’t we do the same with flares?

If A-League clubs were to organize their own flares away from supporters, professionally and safely, as part of the pre-game activities, it would only serve to add to the atmosphere. Just as it did on Saturday night.

It would not interrupt the game itself. More importantly, it would not endanger fans or damage the stadium.

Such a plan would give flares a place at the football. Having that avenue for flares would help dent the motivation of flare-lighters who believe that all they are doing is adding colour to the game.

It appears that little precedent has been set in this area anywhere in the world. The closest a Google search brought to a similar plan is at the MLS' Chicago Fire, where the main supporter group is working with the club and stadium to produce a safe flare display.

There is, it must be said, a genuine chance that a “if we can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em” approach may legitimize the act of lighting flares.

The plan also rests on the notion that most flare-lighters are merely trying to add colour to the game and do not have more sinister motivations.

But if the FFA were serious about minimizing the prevalence of flares that we see at the moment, an out-of-the-box solution may be worth a try.

Besides, just think how many more illegal fireworks would be lit tomorrow night if we had no organized displays.