Top leagues to take tougher measures on violence
MADRID: Europe's top leagues agreed on stricter ticketing rules, increased video surveillance and a new rulebook for supporters on Wednesday in a bid to curb a rise in soccer-related violence.
Europe's Professional Football Leagues (EPFL) - representing more than 20 leagues such as the English Premier League, Spain's La Liga and Italy's Serie A - hammered out a 10-point action-plan to combat the violence which has led to two fatal shootings in the last year.
The strategy - agreed in just days after Sunday's shooting death of a fan by police in Italy - will be submitted to a summit of European Union ministers, the European Commission, police chiefs, supporters groups and senior soccer officials on November 28.
Sunday's fatal shooting of Gabriele Sandri at a service station, where police were dealing with clashes between Lazio and Juventus supporters, was just the latest in an upsurge of violent incidents which have stained the game this year.
In February, an Italian policeman was killed during rioting outside a match in Sicily, while many European matches have been marred by violent and racist scenes.
On Tuesday, European soccer's governing body UEFA said extremists - with no interest in the game - were infiltrating supporters clubs in Italy and were to blame for the violence there.
The EPFL is seeking the formation of a new "Supporter Charter" for fans across Europe which sets out strict rules for their behavior before, during and directly following matches.
"This will be advertised through signs around the stadium, the public speaker system and tickets," the strategy paper said.
The EPFL said it wants supporters groups to be "legally constituted" and help maintain a list of troublemakers or hooligans.
"Most of what we agreed is already in place in countries such as England, but we now need to have the whole of Europe singing off the same hymn sheet when it comes to security at football matches," an EPFL official said.
Tougher ticketing
Among some of the other key measures agreed upon is the introduction of new ticketing systems "to track and verify the identity of the purchaser.
"It was agreed to restrict the multiple sales of tickets and to combat forgeries to ensure the segregation of supporters," the strategy paper said.
May's Champions League final between AC Milan and Liverpool was tainted by violence after fans with forged tickets gained entry, while others with genuine tickets were refused.
"Clubs should be encouraged to implement and maintain a specified level of technological measures ... including the provisions and equipping of modern police posts with CCTV surveillance systems," the paper said.
It was also agreed to investigate harmonized rules and regulations for stewards and private security personnel.
Agencies
(China Daily 11/16/2007 page23)
