A new law that includes "absolute zero tolerance" for offences such as racism and discrimination in football stadiums was overwhelmingly approved by the Belgian House Interior Committee earlier this week.
The law will also clamp down on the illegal use of pyrotechnics and physical violence by extending the duration of stadium bans for hooligans to ten years.
This bill is in line with the action plan "Together for safe football" launched last year by Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden.
It adapts from the law of 21 December 1998 on security during football matches – better known as "the football law" – and the law of 2 October 2017 regulating private and private security.
The law aims to make match organisers responsible by introducing an obligation to make fans aware that racism, xenophobia and the use of pyrotechnics is prohibited. Organisers that fail to do so will be subject to punishment.
For the first time, a minimum penalty is also set for acts of racism or xenophobia.
Where applicable, the minimum penalty is a 30-month stadium ban and a fine of €1500. Depending on the circumstances, fines can be increased. In the case of certain anti-Semitic songs, for example, repeat offenders or instigators will not receive the minimum penalty, but a heavier penalty.
Finally, the law stipulates that stewards and security officers will now be allowed to ask the holder of the ticket to present their identity documents as part of the stadium’s access control measures.
