Football League warn fans who bring fireworks to games will be handed 3-season ban

The Football League have warned supporters who take pyrotechnics into football grounds that they face a minimum three-season ban as well as criminal charges.

All 72 EFL member clubs have signed up to a new chairman's charter which aims to put an end to the dangerous use of items such as smoke bombs, flares and fireworks in stadiums.

EFL chief executive Shaun Harvey said: 'Taking pyrotechnics into our grounds is a criminal offence and, where there is evidence that the law has been broken, the police will always seek to impose a football banning order as an appropriate measure.'

The EFL made the announcement ahead of the weekend's Bonfire Night celebrations and it follows several 'incidents of significant concern' which have seen supporters suffer serious injuries. These include a 15-year-old boy who required hospital treatment for lung damage after a smoke bomb was thrown during a game.

Supporters face a minimum three-season club ban if they breach the new regulations, although clubs will be able to reduce the length of the ban 'should an offender recognise the danger of their actions', the EFL added in a statement.

Harvey, however, believes the governing body has a responsibility to all fans to take action over the issues. He said: 'The EFL recognises the role it must play in deterring supporters from committing pyrotechnic offences and from today, as a result of the introduction of the new charter, our clubs in all instances will ban any supporter if they are found to be in possession of a banned device when entering an EFL venue.

'The same will apply to anyone who discharges a pyrotechnic when inside a stadium.

'We understand the prospect of banning supporters is not an easy one for clubs to contemplate and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our clubs for their commitment to help deliver this important initiative on a collective basis.'

The introduction of the new charter is being supported by the launch of a new pyrotechnics awareness campaign which will see the issue highlighted at all EFL grounds, and published in club media.

The National Police Chiefs' Council lead for football policing, deputy chief constable Mark Roberts, said: 'Our primary aim is always to keep fans safe and so we welcome the EFL's initiative to tackle the issue.

'I would ask fans to consider how they would feel if, as a result of their actions, another supporter was scarred for life, seriously injured or worse.'