Football, a feast !

Every football-supporter should feel very strongly about this slogan. Supporters with the best intentions - who present more than 95 % of the crowd - haven’t always been happy with the legislation which was meant to keep filth out of the stadiums, as those rules also had an influence on them. It’s about time that the stadiums and their environment are given back to those supporters who have the best intentions.

The last couple of years the verbalisation and sanctions on the basis of the football law have been put into practise consequently and strictly in most of the towns, this was demanded by all the partners who are closely associated with football.

This season the adherents of the strict verbalisation- and sanctionpolicy are starting to bear fruit : the fancard as a safetycard will be abolished, the fences will gradually disappear out of the stadiums, the atmosphere will be brought back thanks to the creation of atmosphere-sections… and who knows there might be taken other measures during this season or at the run-up to next season which may increase the comfort of the supporters even more, if only everybody becomes convinced that football has to be a feast !

Supporters who still have the intention to spoil football for other supporters have to realise that by their behaviour they keep other supporters away from the football-stadiums, they can cause damage to their own club and are responsible for a bunch of security measures that have to be taken, for example the estate car arrangement. Those security measures bring along extra costs to the clubs and the government, costs that (needy) clubs and the government could better invest in other, more important things.

In view of the demanded strict verbalisationpolicy, at the minor disturbances the police can’t do anything else than report the offence, that way troublemakers risk a fine and a stadiumban. Obviously no one likes to verbalize or to impose sanctions : the police also have other duties to fulfil in service of the society and the footballcell within the Federal Government Service Internal Affairs wishes to focus with full attention on the supporters who have good meanings, in order to cut back on the restrictive measures (lets think about the liberalisation of the ticketpolicy).

Bad performances of the team or certain referee’s decisions can’t be seen as a permit to start all sorts of rowdyism. Also the not-knowing of the football-legislation and the violations that are stated in it, can’t be considered as an extenuating circumstance, not to mention that this defence might lead to no sanction. This is why we want to list all the actions which can’t be tolerated in a stadium and/or the immediate environment once again:

- the throwing of objects;
- the possession or the use of Bengal firework or other pyrotechnical objects;
- the climbing of fences;
- to enter the playing field (stadiumban of at least two years and a fine of at least 1000 euro);
- to be in another section than the one indicated on the ticket;
- the disturbance of the footballevent by inciting to hatred or rage regarding to other persons who are in the stadium or in the immediate surroundings;
- the violation of an imposed stadiumban (new stadiumban of at least one year and a fine of at least 1000 euro).

Moreover, if you buy a ticket it means that you agree with the regulation of internal order of the organizing club. The regulation of internal order can be found at the entrance of each stadium.

Since football can and has to be a feast, of course it’s permitted to encourage your favourite team in a positive way, but obviously this doesn’t have to be accompanied by calling the supporters of the opposing team or the police names, or the calling of racist slogans towards players with a dark skin colour. Don’t forget your own team also has players who aren’t of Belgian origin ! The use of Bengal fireworks by non-professionals can be perilous (who isn’t convinced yet, the police have a videotape that will convince you) and is for that reason not allowed in the stands.

So we ask every supporter to attend the footballevent in a spirit of sportsmanship and fairplay. This is also expected of the players on the field, the clubs and the referees. The stewards are on the spot to answer all sorts of questions concerning the security and a lot more. Know that they are always trying to do their work as good as possible and that we’re talking about volunteers who have a big heart for your club.

Together with all the supporters who have to best intentions, the concerned sides are assuming that only a firm approach of different supportersbehaviour will contribute to the fact that every fan will be able to attend a footballmatch in safe and pleasant conditions with family or friends. Footballsupporters who aren’t favourably disposed towards ‘football a feast’, can be sure that there will be taken consistent action against those who violate the football-legislation, as well as against those who commit punishable acts, like the infliction of punches, wounds and vandalism, and this for the sake of the supporters who have good intentions.

For more information concerning this issue of safety at footballmatches, you can also get help from following authorities:

- the security responsible of your club or the file-administrator football and spotters at the local police
- Federal Government Service Internal Affairs – General Management Security- and Preventionpolicy - Footballcell: cellfoot@ibz.fgov.be
- Federal Police – Cell Integral Football Safety: ivv-sif@skynet.be
- Royal Belgian Football Association – Department Security: security@footbel.com
- League Professional Football: lpflbv.sterckx@footbel.com