Professional football has been overshadowed by excessive fan violence in recent weeks. Reason for outgoing minister Grapperhaus to talk to the KNVB about the recent excesses.
Tonight and especially last night there were again incidents. Tonight the match between Excelsior-FC Eindhoven was stopped for a while because of chants and because things were thrown on the field.
Yesterday, the Limburg derby between MVV Maastricht and Roda JC Kerkrade was discontinued due to irregularities: fireworks were thrown and after the match was finally canceled by order of the mayor, Roda and MVV supporters attacked each other and clashed with the riot police. Six officers and two flight attendants were injured in the violence.
Stadium ban and penalty points
“This violence has to stop, that is clear as a rock,” said Breda mayor Paul Depla. He is one of the mayors who will join a meeting of the Regiegroep Voetbal enveiligheid on Monday. The police, the judiciary and the KNVB are also involved.
“There are serious concerns about the increased stadium violence. It has been getting worse in recent weeks,” says Depla. He calls for concrete measures to combat violence in the future.
For example, he wants to expand stadium bans with an area ban and a reporting obligation. That way, supporters who have used violence cannot come near a stadium. He also wants football clubs to receive penalty points if they do not have safety in order, because, according to him, the clubs also have a responsibility. And he wants to be able to close supporter sections where violence is often used for three weeks after incidents.
NEC-Vitesse
Not only this weekend, two weeks ago it also went wrong after the Gelderland derby NEC-Vitesse. Then riots broke out, in which 23 people were arrested. Reporters from Omroep Gelderland were also attacked after the game. The broadcaster has decided not to report on football matches anymore.
Last week, the club management of Union Berlin was attacked by Feyenoord hooligans. Before the start, about sixty Berlin supporters were arrested for allegedly rioting. This week, Feyenoord director Mark Koevermans announced that he is stepping down because of far-reaching threats against him.
If the number of incidents does not decrease, the KNVB previously announced that it wants to increase penalties for misconduct, ban supporters and stop or stop matches more quickly.
