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18 May 2007
BRUSSELS – A new football act giving police more powers to tackle violence during football matches comes into effect today.
Police will be authorised to crack down on violent football supporters throughout Belgium from 24 hours before the match and for a full 24 hours after the match begins. It is hoped this will make it easier for police to do something about violent supporters who are not in the stadium itself.
The fines for violations by supporters have also been stepped up, the home affairs ministry reports.
During the first half of the current football season some 506 supporters were banned from stadiums and fines totalling EUR 255,575 were imposed. The supporter who received the severest single penalty has been banned from entering a stadium for three years and was fined EUR 3,000.
[Copyright Expatica News 2007]
Subject: Belgian news