Football fans using young children as flare 'mules'

A new campaign is being launched in the UK to warn of the dangers of fans using flares and smoke bombs after it was revealed children as young as eight have been used as “mules” to smuggle pyrotechnic devices into football grounds.

The campaign by the Premier League, Football League and the FA comes after a growth in the number of incidents – including a linesman being struck by a firework at Aston Villa in October.