New Penal Code shocks fans: 3 years in prison if caught carrying flares in the stadium

The draft of the new Penal Code has sparked strong criticism from legal professionals, justice circles, and various public figures from politics.

Maks Haxhia and Olsian Çela were among the first to oppose it, stating that the punishments are harsher than during communism, and that many of the penalties are even laughable.

One such case is highlighted below, where the new Penal Code provides prison sentences for violence during matches, extending to fans for "carrying or using pyrotechnics, fireworks, flares."

Article 410Assault on athlete, coach, referee, or sports official

1. Assault or other violent acts against an athlete, coach, referee, sports official, or any person related to sporting activities, committed because of it, by persons outside this activity, shall be punished by imprisonment from one to three years.

2. The same offense, when committed in sports venues, or by officials or members of sports clubs, shall be punished by imprisonment from one to five years.

3. In every case, the court shall impose the additional penalty of banning the offender from participating in sporting activities for a period of up to five years.

   
   

Article 411Violent acts in sports activities

1. Unauthorized entry onto the playing field during a sporting event constitutes a criminal offense and is punishable by a fine of fifty thousand to one hundred thousand Albanian lek.

2. If such acts prevent the normal development of the sporting event, they are punishable by a fine or imprisonment up to three months.

3. Throwing hard objects onto the playing field or at crowds, carrying or using pyrotechnic substances, fireworks, or flares during a sporting event, shall be punished by imprisonment from six months to three years.

4. If any person participating in the sporting event is injured as a result of the acts mentioned in paragraph three, the prison sentence shall increase by up to one half.

5. In all cases, the court shall impose an additional penalty prohibiting the offender from participating in sporting events for a period of up to five years.

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“KORÇA BOOM”