Tougher football law leads to longer stadium bans and higher fines

As a result of the new Belgian football law, the average duration of a stadium ban has increased by 40 per cent compared to the previous season, the FPS Home Affairs reported in a press release on Thursday. The average fine also increased by 40 per cent.

Belgium introduced a tougher football law in 2023, which includes a zero-tolerance policy for racism and discrimination, the illegal use of pyrotechnics in stadiums and physical violence. An important part of the law is the tougher minimum sentences for offenders.

The law has had an impact, the FPS Home Affairs announced on Thursday. According to a press release, a total of 16,930 months of stadium bans were handed out in the 2023-2024 season, a 40 per cent increase compared to the previous season. The average fine increased by the same amount, to a total of 890,350 euros.

"Never before have the penalties for violence and vandalism in football been as severe as in the past season," said outgoing Home Affairs minister Annelies Verlinden on Thursday. "This sends a clear message as a government. We must keep the focus on football safety high on the political agenda, also in the next legislative period."

Increased violence

The rise in fines and bans has been accompanied by an increase in football violence. The police issued 1,194 official reports for infringements of the new law, an increase of 13.5 per cent compared to the 2022-2023 season. Just under 90 per cent of these reports resulted in actual sanctions.

The most common offences were inciting hatred or anger and/or fighting and injuring in the stadium (38.27 per cent), possessing, handling or throwing pyrotechnic articles (26.13 per cent) and throwing or shooting objects (19.51 per cent).

Tougher sanctions do not seem to deter all fans. In August, 34 Club Brugge fans were given stadium bans for making racist gestures during a match. Matches are also regularly interrupted or delayed because fans set off pyrotechnics or throw objects onto the pitch.

 

Royal Antwerp supporters during a soccer match in January 2025. © BELGA PHOTO TOM GOYVAERTS

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