Analysis reveals shortcomings of the Hooligan Concordat: researchers make a strange suggestion against fan violence

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Hooligans set off fireworks and smash their heads. Not unusual for matches in the highest Swiss football league. To prevent this, the Hooligan Concordat has been in force since 2012. This sets out measures that authorities can take to curb the violence. But now a study by the University of Bern shows: the number of football matches with violent events remained relatively stable.

In other words: the hooligan concordat has little effect. For the evaluation, the researchers interviewed about 100 experts, including fan workers, club representatives, politicians, police officers and prosecutors. Nearly half (43 percent) think the situation has not improved.

Those surveyed consider the ban on flags, banners and alcohol, as well as mandatory seating in stadiums, to be particularly ineffective. They assess district bans slightly more effectively. These prohibit staying in a predetermined area during sporting events. The only problem is that these are difficult to monitor because the people on whom sanctions are imposed are usually not recognized.

No ban for three years – despite the violation

That is why all groups surveyed – with the exception of fan workers – spoke in favor of more reporting requirements. If a fan is punished with this measure, he or she must report to a police station at certain times. This is to prevent him from causing riots. However, this measure also has little effect. The police stations are often located in the immediate vicinity of the stadiums.

In addition, it takes on average a long time before a measure is taken. For the rayon ban, this is an average of 168 days, for the reporting obligation 203. One fan even escaped unscathed for more than three years until the authorities imposed a rayon ban on him after 1,165 days. The report cites time-consuming identification as a reason for the long duration, but also the low prioritization on the part of the police.

The report further criticizes the cantonal spirit. Depending on the location, authorities would take different measures. And this despite the fact that the Hooligan Concordat should have led to a standardized handling. This is legal inequality, the researchers write and recommend legal clarifications.

Violence in trains and stations

Since the Hooligan Concordat focused on violence in stadiums, events have been moved outside. Now there are clashes, especially on the way to football matches – that is, physical violence on trains and at railway stations. This also includes damage to property and the disposal of objects.

This shows that violence has not decreased, but has shifted. The report states that authorities have been strengthened by the hooligan concordat. But at the same time, the relationship with the fans has deteriorated. They criticize, among other things, the mixing of crimes, since pyros are already considered violent behavior.

The researchers therefore make an unusual suggestion: no longer define pyros as an act of violence. This could somewhat calm the tense situation between authorities and hooligans. But ultimately, most respondents argue for more supervision. This is done by requiring ID when purchasing tickets and cameras in stadiums. This can help during competitions. But the new main problem would remain: the violence outside the stadiums. (rba)

Source:Blick