Hertha Berlin’s new president and former Olympiastadion ultra Kay Bernstein says he supports a partial legalisation of the use of pyrotechnics inside German stadiums.
With the issue of pyros a very topical one right now with the DFB Pokal second round matches upon us and high-profile incidents in the recent Europa League, Bernstein has spoken out against the total ban that is currently in place advocating a partial legalisation.
“I cannot accept anything that could endanger other people, any form of violence,” the 42-year-old explained in the Thursday edition of Die Zeit. “But the way it’s arranged now, it doesn’t lead to anything.
“I’m in favour of turning part of the curve into the pyro area, in which Bengalos can be burned down in a controlled manner and extinguished directly. I’m not a revolutionary. But of course, I want to change something.”
Bernstein was a founding member of the Hertha ultra group ‘Harlekins Berlin 98’ and a former capo (the one with the megaphone). The use of pyros in stadiums has been a ‘burning’ issue for years with discussions between politicians, officials, and police about their use. Clubs are currently heavily fined for the use inside their stadia.
Bernstein is a believer that fans “need to be given more responsibility” and they will be able to prove themselves.
