Authorities take action: that’s why closing the fan curves causes problems

During the final Super League weekend of the year, the fan curves of every team in the competition caused a stir. During every match they protested against the collective punishment with banners and white smoke pots. “Collective punishment is followed by collective responses,” is the motto of the joint action.

The fan scenes wanted to send a message against the punishments that have become increasingly severe in recent times. For example, the fan curves in Servette and Lausanne were closed for one match each after the riots at the Léman Derby in early December. After the material damage in Zurich in October, the Bernese east curve will also remain closed for the next YB home game against GC.

But does such a protest really make sense? I do not think so. It is unlikely that the authorities and the league will make any compromises if fans will go up in smoke at the stadium. Several matches had to be briefly interrupted due to the protests, which made the action seem counterproductive.

Well, the league is taking action

When it comes to the topic of collective punishment, I am faced with a dilemma. Certainly, it is good that action is being taken and that tough action is being taken against fan violence around Swiss stadiums. But my problem with collective punishment is that the wrong people are often punished and suffer for it.

These penalties are usually imposed after incidents that occur outside the stadium. But often these are the responsibility of a few perpetrators who do not necessarily go to the stadium to support their club. Ultimately, those who suffer are the fans who want to cheer on their team in the stadium frantically but completely peacefully for 90 minutes. And the players who suddenly have to play for an empty fan curve.

A dialogue is needed

To me it is clear: the dialogue between the authorities and the fan scene must be strengthened. For example, Fan Work Switzerland, a club that was supposed to form the body between the league and the fans, was stopped at the end of 2021 due to “different visions of the future”. The SFV and the SFL stopped financing at the time and it was no longer possible to continue the work. But exactly such an organ is now missing.

Because the fan scenes consist of a lot of young people. A wire must be found for this. Preferably from people who can meet them at eye level. This is the only way long-term solutions will be possible in the future.

Tougher penalties for individual perpetrators

But what are the alternatives to collective punishment? Punish individual perpetrators more severely! The people who cause riots around the stadiums must be removed in due course. If the police were to crack down a little harder, it could send a strong message to the rioters – stronger than closing the home curves for individual matches.

And personalized cards? With each incident they gain greater public acceptance. But they have always been infamous among die-hard fans. And do they really help? The clubs’ season tickets also contain names, but they still do not help identify perpetrators.

Premier League as a negative example

I’m afraid you’re losing your fan culture. For example, if you look at the Premier League, where personalized tickets have been a fixture for years, every football romantic’s stomach turns. The traditional fan culture no longer exists in many places and in the mega stadiums full of tourists there is often no trace of the original fan curves. Many longtime fans only watch their team’s games in bars and avoid the stadiums. Moreover, many disputes take place in the lower leagues and on the streets – far away from the media and the police.

This would be a worst-case scenario for Switzerland. After all, our competition still lives from the curves, the choreographies and the atmosphere in the stadiums. There is a thread to be found. Dialogue instead of repression.