Pyrotechnics and “Bengals” are not legal to set off in sports arenas in Sweden. This divides people and is a highly debated topic within Swedish football.
Now the artist has Thomas Stenström sparked the debate again. He burned Bengals during his appearance at the Sports Gala this week.
Thomas Stenström about the journey from the grocery store to the music scene: “Fuck you, Coop”
Praised by football supporters
Many football supporters hailed his “coup” and thought it was a stand for pyrotechnics.
This time, however, it was carried out legally, as the gala had received permission to burn pyrotechnics.
– It was some light version of Bengals, first of all. These were not real “flares”. But still so much so that we needed to apply for permission to carry it out, explained Stephan Rimer The sports gala’s CEO, for The Express and continued:
– I can’t actually answer where the idea came from. It grew organically and everyone thought it was a neat thing to do. The motive behind it was actually that they wanted to make a small contribution to sports. This type of symbolic actions is there. So it was a bit of an effect search.
The Bengals also raised a fury
But Thomas Stenström’s actions also caused a lot of anger. Per Engström, section chief of the police operational department, NOA, did not like the performance. He saw it more as “a slap in the face”.
– It’s about the signal value. That in the fine room of sport you can line up with two Bengals, he said Gothenburg Post and continues:
– It’s not like it benefits us at all. And it does not benefit the security officers who toil daily with visits to remove what is dangerous from the stands.