Zug,18.05.2018

Ice-hockey fan who set off flair banned from stadia for 85 days

A 24-year-old EVZ supporter has been banned from entering ice-hockey stadia for 85 days and given a partially suspended fine amounting to 85 days’ pay, plus CHF 550, after he entered the underground garage at the Bossard Arena with a lit flair in April.

It was on Wednesday 1 April that, after EVZ had won a semi-final away match by 5:3 against HC Davos, the Zug team knew it would go on to play against HC Bern in the final. That night, actually at 1.40 am on Thursday 2 April, a coach with Zug fans on board returned from the canton of Graubünden to the Bossard Arena.

The fan in question, who was 23 at the time, made his way into the garage with15-20 other fans, where the team coach had arrived, further fans having already assembled there. It was only natural they wanted to celebrate, this being the first time in 19 years that EVZ had reached such heights. However, as mentioned, the 23-year-old, a resident of Cham, was carrying a lit flair. It seems he had obtained it in 2016 and kept it until this night. In fact when police searched his home they came across further flairs and fireworks, including a number of “Flash Bangers”.

As mentioned, he was duly given a suspended fine amounting to CHF 20,350 (i.e. 85 times his daily rate of pay plus an additional fine of CHF 550). Failure to pay this latter fine would mean five days in jail. Furthermore, he has been banned from entering any ice-hockey stadium at which any national or Swiss League games are played for this period of 85 days, too. In precise terms this means he is not allowed to come within 1000 metres of any such stadium six hours before a match, at any time during the match, and for up to six hours afterwards.