Belgian football has seen a rise in security incidents at stadiums this year, most recently over the weekend. As a result, Federal Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden (CD&V) has announced plans to strengthen the action plan against hooliganism.
Multiple matches were disrupted by fans in the Belgian Pro League this weekend, with Charleroi receiving a €50,000 fine after their match was stopped due to their fans throwing fireworks onto the pitch.
These were the latest occurrences in a long line of safety issues at football stadiums this year, which have not been isolated to Belgium. Verlinden expressed her shock "when I saw the images from several football stadiums".
She declared that the new law will step up the previous action plan against hooliganism in football.
What changes
The action plan reform came after Verlinden met with the CEO of the Belgian Pro League and the league's clubs. It will put a greater onus on clubs, apply harsher sanctions on fans who disrupt football matches and order stricter access to stadiums.
The football cell of the FPS Home Affairs will increase their monitoring of clubs to ensure that they comply with regulations, with more severe punishments to be handed out if clubs have not taken sufficient precautions to keep pyrotechnic material out of their stadiums.
Verlinden also announced harsher penalties for offences such as racist or xenophobic chants and the use of flares and physical violence, especially towards stewards and energy service members. Furthermore, stadium bans may now increase to 10 years, whereas it currently stands at five years.
To ensure that stadium bans are correctly applied, clubs will now be obliged to deliver matchday tickets and season tickets by name. As a result, stewards will be able to check the identity of supporters and compare them with the name on the ticket or season ticket.
