Aggressive incidents rampant in top amateur football, affecting 80% of clubs
Security measures ranging from stewards and private guards to fireworks-sniffing dogs are increasingly being used in Dutch top amateur soccer as aggression around matches rises, according to a survey by broadcaster EenVandaag.
A survey of 122 clubs in the Second, Third, and Fourth Divisions found that more than 80 percent of respondents had experienced aggression during the past three seasons, and three in 10 said the problem has worsened. About half of the clubs completed the questionnaire.
Clubs most often blamed a hardening society, saying people become irritated more quickly and have shorter tempers. They also cited alcohol, drugs, and the influence of social media. Some said authority is increasingly rejected. One club said, “People seem to think everything should go the way they want.” Another reported, “There are boys who call themselves hooligans.”
Verbal abuse was the most common form of aggression, usually aimed at referees and assistant referees, though players were also regularly insulted by spectators. Four in 10 clubs said physical violence had occurred in recent seasons, usually involving fights between spectators around the field.
The KNVB requires clubs in the second and third divisions to appoint safety coordinators who oversee trained stewards and coordinate with police and municipalities.
SV TEC, which plays in the Derde Divisie and had been battling relegation, hired two additional security guards and contacted police before its decisive playoff against Vierde Divisie side RKSV NEO from Borne, according to safety coordinator Christan Hofman.
Chairman Bas ten Berge said tensions around such matches can spill over. “You have a winner and a loser, and that always brings emotions. Of course it is part of the sport, but sometimes those emotions cross the line.” He added: “Being told to follow the rules is something people have difficulty with these days.”
Asked why aggression is increasing, Ten Berge said, "If I had the answer to that. But you see that people in the Netherlands simply accept less, and that includes soccer.” Ten Berge said safety measures place an additional financial burden on clubs. “Safety costs money, and it is not always in the budget. Most clubs could use that money for other things.” SV TEC beat RKSV NEO 3-0 to secure another season in the third devision. The match passed without incidents.
The KNVB said it was not surprised by the findings, arguing that since the coronavirus pandemic, society has seen “shorter tempers, more assertiveness, and less respect for authority.”
Promoting a positive soccer culture is one of six strategic priorities for the federation, though it acknowledged that eliminating all incidents is unrealistic. “With millions of visitors, more than 800,000 matches, and emotions flaring, that is not realistic. But as far as we are concerned, every incident is one too many.”
