The Pro League, the organization of professional clubs, introduced a new, far-reaching safety measure on Thursday. If a match is stopped due to misconduct by supporters, the club of those supporters must play three away matches without fans. If this happens again within 12 months, five competitions will be added. The new rule takes effect immediately.
“Quite honestly, this goes against how we see football with home and away supporters in one stadium,” said Lorin Parys, the CEO of the Pro League. “But due to the behavior of some people pretending to be supporters, we will now act in this way.”
The measure is a response to the problem of fan violence, which led to the temporary or permanent suspension of several football matches this season. There was a realization in the football world that a strong signal was needed. At the same time, clubs are also concerned about penalties that would hurt the clubs financially. At the moment, Anderlecht and Standard risk a match behind closed doors after their mutual match was stopped early in December. Standard in particular has to deal with increasing debts. Every match played without fans creates an immediate cash flow problem.
The new measure will be included in the internal regulations of the Pro League and is separate from the disciplinary proceedings by the football association. The Pro League allows that when away fans are banned, the home club can sell its away section to home supporters. In this way, clubs whose stadiums are often sold out can even benefit financially from the measure.
“Important step”
The Pro League coordinated the initiative with the Minister of the Interior Annelies Verlinden (CD&V) and with Piet Vandendriessche, the new CEO of the football association. “We cannot accept that our beloved sport is being held hostage by inappropriate behavior by a few, and that the safety of players, security personnel, supporters and spectators is being compromised,” Vandendriessche said in a statement. “We are therefore pleased that the Pro League is once again taking an important step to put a stop to this misconduct.”
Disappointed reactions can be heard from the supporters’ federations. The fact that the new measure was not discussed with the fans in advance is a thorn in their side. The fact that away fans risk having to pay for possible misconduct by home fans also feels unfair to the supporters.
“There was no consultation in advance, which is not constructive,” says Eddy Janssis of the Belgian supporters’ federation. “Mr. Parys and the other people who make such a decision do not realize that they are taking away people’s hobby. 99 percent of fans who mean well are punished.”
Incidents are increasing
Incidents involving supporters have increased in recent months. At the end of January there were problems in Molenbeek, Vorst (Union) and Sint-Truiden. RWDM fans stopped the home game against Eupen with fireworks when they fell behind. The match was played behind closed doors a few days later.
Anderlecht supporters disrupted the cup match at Union’s neighbors and Genk fans damaged the artificial grass at Stayen during the Limburg derby.
Before New Year, two ‘clasicos’ between Standard and Anderlecht were stopped by rioters. Both teams subsequently decided that visiting fans are no longer welcome at their mutual matches this season.
