Stricter rules for football matches: matches immediately abandoned if fireworks are used
Minister of Justice and Security, David van Weel, has announced new measures to increase safety in Dutch football stadiums. From now on, football matches will be immediately and permanently abandoned if supporters throw fireworks onto the pitch or fire them in the direction of other people.
This decision follows a series of incidents in which fireworks created dangerous situations for both players and spectators. With this, the government and football associations want to send a strong signal that the use of illegal fireworks in stadiums will no longer be tolerated.
In the past, matches were often temporarily interrupted to calm the situation, after which the match was resumed later. Under the new rules, that leeway no longer exists. As soon as fireworks land on the pitch, the referee must immediately end the match permanently.
The measure has major consequences for clubs and fans. It means that a match can be lost due to the behavior of a small group of supporters. The authorities hope that this strict approach will ensure that the atmosphere in the stadiums becomes safer and that true football fans are no longer the victims of misconduct.
The football association and the clubs are in consultation regarding the practical implementation of these new rules. The goal is to guarantee safety in the stadiums for everyone, so that football matches can once again be a celebration for the whole family.