This season has now seen three fans arrested at Oxford United matches for setting off smoke and pyro devices. Each has led to an arrest and we feel it necessary to remind people that pyro has no place at our football club.
The three cases have been:
During the home game against Crystal Palace a flare was set off and the user was arrested, ejected from the ground and given a three year ban from football.
During the home game against MK Dons a flare was thrown in the away end and the person responsible was arrested and ejected from the ground. The flare landed next to a partially-sighted fans who became very distressed at the situation and required medical assistance.
During the game at Charlton Athletic on Saturday a flare was thrown and according to reports from fans in the area struck a young girl on the head. This has been confirmed by her family and they will be our guests at Saturday’s game as we try to reassure them that football can be a safe place for everyone. An arrest has been made over the incident and the person responsible was ejected and banned from football for three years
All three incidents will also lead to a criminal record.
CCTV has advanced so quickly and with evidence also available from social media, fans with cameras, police surveillance cameras and TV images, those responsible are almost always identified.
We thank fans who have tried their best to help the club eliminate this problem and we will work with all relevant parties to stamp it out, given that the club also face sanctions which range from hefty fines to reduced capacities at games.