HJK fans smuggle dozens of flares into Jaro match, damage stadium

Helsinki football club HJK’s supporters smuggled around 30 flares, including smoke bombs and strobe lights, into Saturday’s Veikkausliiga away match against Jaro in Pietarsaari, Yle reports.

Flares were set off in the away section, scorching parts of the wooden stand and leaving burn marks. One flare landed on the pitch, burning a 20-centimetre mark into the artificial turf. No players or spectators were harmed, according to Jaro’s security chief Benjamin Hakala.

Large numbers of stickers were also found glued to toilet walls and mirrors. Hakala estimates the damage could cost thousands of euros to repair.

Fines are expected for both the host club and HJK, as Finnish Football Association rules prohibit flares in stands or on the pitch. Penalties can reach several thousand euros.

Despite strict security checks—including metal detectors and manual searches—some smaller flares evaded detection. Hakala suspects larger flares were either hidden in advance or thrown over fences. Police documented the damage and filed a criminal report.

This is the second time Pietarsaari’s new stadium has required repairs after fan incidents. Last summer, flares burned holes in the pitch during a Jaro–VPS match.