Dutch municipalities want UEFA to help manage away supporters around matches
The Dutch cities hosting European football matches this season want UEFA to make concrete agreements about managing away supporters. The municipalities often struggle with preventing clashes and disturbances between away and home supporters and the European Football Association can help with this, Anja Schouten, mayor of Alkmaar and spokesperson for the municipalities hosting European matches, told NOS.
The Netherlands has made clear agreements on preventing disturbances during Eredivisie matches, but these have not been laid down for European matches. Hosting and visiting clubs and the police from both cities have to make agreements with each other per match. If UEFA took a leading role and arrived at a common, European approach, things could be much easier, Schouten said.
This season, Amsterdam, Alkmaar, Rotterdam, Eindhoven, and Enschede are hosting European matches. They suggest that UEFA set up mandatory transport agreements for high-risk matches. “In the Netherlands, we have the well-known bus combination, which requires supporters to be taken to the stadium by bus. This reduces the chance of escalation outside the stadium. But that is almost impossible to regulate in Europe. We therefore urge UEFA to come up with rules,” Schouten said.
The Dutch cities also advocate for a central exchange point, where supporters exchange a voucher for a match ticket and then go to the stadium by bus. This would better control the flow of supporters. “That only works if everyone adheres to the agreement. So if every club sells vouchers and asks supporters to exchange them there,” Schouten told NOS. “We ask UEFA to include that in the rules.”
The Dutch municipalities would also like to be able to set the starting time of matches, instead of having to adhere to UEFA’s 6:45 and 9:00 p.m. kickoffs. “Matches at 9:00 p.m. are difficult for several reasons. For example, with police deployment and public transport. We believe the time can really make a difference in welcoming supporters and keeping supporters out. More police deployment is needed late at night.”
Finally, the Dutch municipalities want UEFA to help monitor and enforce the agreements.
UEFA does not seem too enthused by the Dutch suggestions. “In all cases, the competent local authorities remain responsible for decisions regarding the security of matches that take place on their territory,” the European Football Association told NOS. “UEFA wants fans to be able to travel and support their team in a safe and inviting environment and encourages both clubs and the competent authorities to make appropriate agreements about this.”
