The introduction, possession or use of rockets or fireworks of any kind in a sports arena during the staging or public broadcasting of a sporting event is punishable by three years’ imprisonment and a fine of 15,000 euros.
By way of derogation from the first paragraph, on an experimental basis and for a period of three years from the date of promulgation of law no. du aimed at democratising sport in France, the representative of the State in the département or, in Paris, the police prefect, on receipt of a request to this effect from the organiser of the sporting event and the owner of the sports stadium hosting it, may authorise the introduction, possession and use of pyrotechnic devices during the staging or public broadcasting of a sporting event, under conditions likely to protect the safety of people and property. The authorisation may require the organisers to take any measure necessary to ensure the safety of the sporting event, in particular the provision of a security service or the adaptation of the arrangements for receiving the public. The delegated federation to which the organiser of the sporting event is affiliated and the mayor of the municipality in whose territory the venue hosting the sporting event is located are informed of the issue of this authorisation. A Conseil d’Etat decree sets out the conditions for the application of this paragraph, in particular the categories of sports venues concerned and the categories of equipment authorised.
Any attempt to commit the offence referred to in the first paragraph shall be punishable by the same penalties.
The court may also order the confiscation of the object used or intended to be used to commit the offence.
For the offence referred to in the same first paragraph, even in the event of a repeat offence, the public prosecution may be extinguished, under the conditions set out in articles 495-17 to 495-25 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, by the payment of a fixed fine of 500 euros. The amount of the reduced fixed fine is 400 euros and the amount of the increased fixed fine is 1,000 euros.