The current KNVB protocol regarding abandoning matches does not work, according to Dr. Wim Bloemers and Dr. Vittorio Busato. The psychologists base this on proven laws from psychology. According to the duo, supporters must experience the consequences of their actions as more negative than they do now. Their solution? Immediate relegation if there is a second permanent stoppage.
Marianne van Leeuwen recently spoke opposite ESPN still expresses its confidence in the current protocol. The director of professional football of the KNVB pointed out the small percentage of matches that have since been permanently stopped. Bloemers and Busato watched the interview with dismay.
“Van Leeuwen does what most administrators and politicians suffer from these days: portraying the situation as rosier than reality,” the duo wrote on Monday. Het Parool.. “Last season already had a record number of suspended matches: no less than 23 times a match was temporarily or even permanently stopped.”
“Moreover, Van Leeuwen conveniently ignores the total social damage caused by hard core supporters – consider, for example, the number of threats made, and the deployment and costs of the police and riot police to monitor safety in and around stadiums. The current rules give disruptors a lot of too much space and will perpetuate criminal behavior as long as it is not adequately punished.”
Bloemers and Busato believe it is time for ‘unambiguous action’. They substantiate this with a proven theory. “Burrhus Skinner’s ‘laws’ about operant conditioning in particular can provide a solution. These laws still stand proud. Behavioral patterns are learned and maintained by their consequences: positively experienced consequences strengthen behavior, negatively experienced consequences weaken it.”
“We therefore propose the following,” the duo pleads. “One time fireworks or a dangerous object on the field, or racist or otherwise offensive chants: stop the match. Two times: stop the match, the club in question loses legally 3-0. If this happens again in the next match, a club is automatically relegated to the first division. Ajax or no Ajax.”
Minor change
The last professional match that was stopped due to misconduct was De Klassieker on September 24 (0-4). The game was eventually played out three days later in an empty Johan Cruijff ArenA. The rules surrounding permanent strikes have now been slightly adjusted, Dick van Egmond said recently. According to the referee coordinator, there is no longer always an immediate stop when a player or referee is hit. This does happen in the event of injury or if the perpetrator is not caught.