The Moderate Party in Stockholm will submit a written statement to the sports committee and a motion to the municipal council.
Wedin hopes that the proposal will initiate a debate to find a solution to the problem of Bengal fires on football arenas. By allowing pyrotechnics under controlled forms – similar to how it is in Norway – one can "preserve the spectator culture that enriches football", says the opposition councillor.
It is a cultural element that is here to stay, says Dennis Wedin to Dagens Nyheter.
I think it is fully natural that we ensure it can start happening under more orderly forms. It becomes safer – not least in terms of fire safety.
Major Sponsor Jumped Off
The issue has been re-actualized at the start of the men's Allsvenskan. Among other things, through billionaire Carl Bennet jumping off as sponsor for Halmstads BK since the club, according to him, has failed to get rid of pyrotechnics from the stands.
Exactly how "controlled forms" could look like leaves Dennis Wedin to others to figure out.
It is a question for the clubs and authorities. I have full confidence that they have both competence and willingness to find a reasonable solution.
Two Other Proposals
Maria-Elsa Salvo (S) is the chairperson of the sports committee in the City of Stockholm. She says to DN that it is the organizers' responsibility to ensure that matches can be carried out safely, and that she is still waiting for the government's investigation to reduce violence in the stands. It was supposed to be ready in March this year.
We and the entire Swedish sports community are still waiting, says Salvo to the newspaper.
If Wedin wants to make a difference in this issue, he can start by putting pressure on his government colleagues to present the proposals.
Besides legalizing pyrotechnics, The Moderate Party in Stockholm proposes that the cameras at 3 arena – home ground for Hammarby's and Djurgården's men – be replaced and that the arena be equipped with alarm gates at the entrances.
