The police are to draw up a top-10 of most notorious football hooligans for each club in professional football. All data pertaining to these hooligans will be stored in one single data base.

When arrested, they will be treated the same way as notorious repeat offenders.

These measures form part of a national plan of action against football violence. The plan was signed by Justice Minister Ivo Opstelten, the national football union, the public prosecutors’ office and the mayors of the cities most affected by hooliganism.

The agreement calls for quicker and stricter punishment, utilising a tit-for-tat policy whenever possible. Minister Opstelten has said he approves of a proposal from parliament to extend the duration of stadium bans.

The signatories want to hold talks on security measures ahead of each match in professional football. The justice minister and the other parties to the agreement emphasize that even though football violence as such is a national problem, addressing it remains primarily a local concern.