Dubai Police arrest fans for using flammable material in stadium
- 8 hours ago
Dubai: The General Command of Dubai Police has warned sports fans against using any hazardous materials, fireworks, or flammable substances in stadiums, as they pose a threat to the lives of fans, players, officials, and all those present in the vicinity of sports facilities.
This warning comes after Dubai Police apprehended fans who used red distress signals, which are used for distress calls at sea, during football matches, posing a significant danger and threat to those present in the sports facilities.
Major General Abdullah Ali Al Ghaithi, Assistant Commander-in-Chief for Operations at Dubai Police, affirmed the readiness of police personnel to secure players, officials, and fans at all matches and to deal firmly with any breach of stadium security.
Al Ghaithi emphasised that Dubai Police will strictly hold accountable anyone who violates the law, out of concern for the safety and security of the stadiums. He urged fans to maintain a sporting spirit and adhere to the law during cheering, reflecting the bright image of the United Arab Emirates and the high level it has reached in organising sports events.
He explained that Article 17 of the Federal Law No. 8 of 2014 on the Security of Facilities and Sports Events specifies the obligations of sports fans, which include not entering the field or the venue of the sports event without a permit, not bringing or possessing any prohibited or hazardous materials, especially fireworks, into the sports facility or the venue of the sports event, and not violating the cases in which carrying weapons is permitted in the sports facility or during the sports event, as determined by a decision of the Minister of Interior.
Al Ghaithi clarified that the law punishes non-compliance with the aforementioned provisions with imprisonment for a period of not less than one month and not more than three months, and a fine of not less than Dhs5,000 and not exceeding Dhs30,000, or with one of these two penalties.
The law punishes with imprisonment and a fine of not less than Dhs10,000 and not exceeding Dhs30,000 or with one of these two penalties, anyone who commits, participates in, incites, or attempts to commit acts of violence, anyone who throws any materials or liquids of any kind towards another spectator or towards the surrounding area of the stadium or the stadium itself, and anyone who utters or writes obscene words or makes any gestures that are likely to cause harm, or who makes political calls during the sports events, Al Ghaithi said, adding that the law also punishes anyone who exploits the stadium for political purposes.
