MORE than 1,800 stadium bans were imposed in Belgium during the 2021-22 soccer season along with larger fines as authorities tried to crack down on fan violence.
The sanctions “are a clear signal that bad behavior has no place in our soccer stadiums,” Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden said Tuesday.
The sanctions were imposed by a specialized cell at the interior ministry and form part of a clampdown following repeated incidents.
According to the ministry’s figures, the number of citations submitted by police during the 2021-22 season was not significantly higher than in 2018-2019 prior to the coronavirus outbreak, but the penalties were tougher. During the 2021-22 season, stadium bans for individual fans added up to a total of 22,037 months, almost double the 2018-2019 total of 11,229 months, the ministry said.
The total amount of fines also increased significantly, from 540,525 euros ($585,000) to 910,250 euros ($985,000).
Fan violence in
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