Introduction

Viewed in terms of the volume of major incidents, in particular confrontations between supporter groupings, football season 2002-2003 was reasonably quiet. However, during the past several years football vandalism has not just been confined to the visible behaviour of supporters, or people claiming to be supporters. 

In recent years supporters, whether or not part of dedicated associations, have increasingly made their presence felt. In most cases they want a greater say in the way a club is run or in measures taken around away-games in particular. This season their dissatisfaction with certain measures was expressed in active protests on several occasions. In most cases these focused on what they regarded as the unnecessary imposition of the “combi travel” arrangement.

However, these occasionally tongue-in-cheek protests do not conceal the fact that, once again this season, some supporters made their presence felt in a negative manner. In the CIV’s view this is a cause for concern.

The season 2002 – 2003 was notable for the financial ups-and-downs around professional football and related licensing.

For supporters these and other financial issues involving the clubs often provoked a reaction. Once again the CIV notes that intimidation by supporters, and their taking the stance of protest/pressure groups has in certain cases taken on unacceptable forms. It is unacceptable for local government officials to be pressured into taking positive financial or other decisions involving a club, or for the business community to be hampered or prevented from exercising its democratic right to object against the issue of licences, and so on.

Already in the past the CIV has noted behaviour tending more to clandestine behaviour than the overt. In the view of the CIV this behaviour also falls under the category of football vandalism and is far more a cause for concern than overt behaviour. This is one factor making it difficult to establish a rise or fall in football hooliganism. Arrests were certainly lower than last season but as noted more frequently, arrest-totals do not represent the benchmark. It is more realistic to talk in terms of a shift within football hooliganism.

Another important factor this year was the toughening up of policy around combating football hooliganism. This was established in the updated Policy Framework on Combating Football Hooliganism and Football Violence.

H.J. Groenevelt

Head of the CIV