Share

Schalke fan jailed after flare injured 8

Berlin - A Schalke 04 fan was on Wednesday jailed for 18 months for setting off pyrotechnic flares during a Bundesliga match which hospitalised eight people two years ago.

Despite a nationwide ban on pyrotechnics in Germany's top flight stadiums, the 24-year-old student from Gelsenkirchen was convicted of setting off the fireworks during Schalke's match against Eintracht Frankfurt in November 2012.

The unnamed supporter, a member of Schalke's "Hugos" ultra fan group who has repeatedly appeared in front of the Gelsenkirchen district court for football-related offences since he was 16, had originally been given a suspended sentence last year.

But an appeal by state prosecutors saw the sentence changed to a prison term by a regional court in Essen, which the fan has already appealed.

The German Football Association (DFB) has been clamping down on flares being lit in Bundesliga stadiums and this is one of the first times a fan has been jailed.

During sentencing judge Marcus Doerlemann said the football supporter had acted with complete disregard for the safety of the eight fellow supporters who needed hospital treatment after the 12 flares were let off in a tightly-packed fan block.

"(The flares) were completely out of control, there were children in the fan block, but you didn't care," said the judge.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Should Siya Kolisi keep the captaincy as the Springboks build towards their World Cup title defence in 2027?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Siya will only be 36 at the next World Cup. He can make it!
25% - 1273 votes
No! I think the smart thing to do is start again with a younger skipper ...
29% - 1473 votes
I'd keep Siya captain for now, but look to have someone else for 2027.
45% - 2252 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE