In the Netherlands, the ministry will investigate the ‘English model’ to combat the misconduct of supporters. Marianne van Leeuwen, KNVB director, tells this in conversation with the General Journal. The KNVB announced earlier this week that the tightened measures will also remain in force for the remainder of the season. New measures may be introduced for the coming year.
It has been discussed with politicians that concrete plans will be made before the start of the new season. “In the coming weeks, the ministry will study a number of elements from the so-called ‘English model’,” says Van Leeuwen. The KNVB director says that two things will be specifically looked at. “The reporting obligation for people with a stadium ban. The KNVB would like a digital reporting obligation in the Netherlands. And two: just like in England, handle more cases in criminal law, so that perpetrators are punished even more severely.”
Van Leeuwen states that a digital reporting obligation is crucial to keep people with a stadium ban outside the stadium. “Now the clubs themselves have to check at the gate whether someone has a stadium ban. That is sometimes difficult when thousands of people arrive at the same time. The digital reporting obligation helps to keep perpetrators out of the stadium and thus makes enforcement easier. Clubs have already invested heavily in their safety organisations. But KNVB and clubs can issue stadium bans, if they cannot be properly enforced, it will not get along.”
Van Leeuwen expects that the evaluation of the current measures will result in a few adjustments that can be implemented in a subsequent season. “But I’m not going to anticipate anything,” emphasizes the driver. “The most important thing in the short term is to maintain the line that has been set. It is widely supported. And it quickly had an effect, given the safety on the field.” Finally, Van Leeuwen says that an alcohol ban in the stadiums is not on the agenda during the evaluation of the current measures.
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