SPEECH/07/766
Franco
Frattini
European Commissioner responsible for Justice, Freedom and
Security
Closing intervention on violence in
sport
High level Conference "Towards an EU strategy against violence in
sport"
Brussels, 29 November 2007
I welcome discussion outcomes of yesterday's four workshops. There is great added value in the exchange of local and national level best practice. Indeed this will help our common efforts going forward.
Sport generates passion and for many is a source of shared local and national identity.
Sport can promote shared understanding and common values such as fairness, self-discipline, solidarity, team spirit, tolerance and fair play. Sport offers a medium though which personal and social responsibility can be fostered. Sport is a catalyst for integration.
However there is also a darker side. One that needs to be addressed. We need to make changes in the environment – to prevent further fear, misbehaviour or infighting.
Sadly there are many examples of violence in sport – especially in football. I mention just a few:
- This year's Sicilian Derby where about 100 people were treated for injures and a Police Officer died.
- November 2006, the racist and anti-Semitic nature of fighting at a Paris-St-Germain match with an Israeli team that resulted in the death of a fan
- A 2006 Germany-Poland international match that resulted in violent clashes. Of the 300 arrested, 120 were known hooligans.
Nature of violence. Violence in sport is increasingly organised. It is often a minority of known trouble-makers [often with criminal backgrounds], who are the cause of disruption.
Such violence is not confined to sporting events. Increasingly our town and city centres have become venues for violence. People not involved in sport may end up victims – or fear becoming victims.
Action taken
Many developments - at national and European level – have occurred since the Heysel tragedy in 1985 [when 39 fans were killed] and Hillsborough in 1989 [when 96 fans were killed].
At EU level. National Football Information Points have improved the exchange of operational information and data on known troublemakers. Police cooperation, based on the recommendations of the Security manual, adopted in 2001, has contributed to a substantial reduction of disorder at recent events such as last year's Word cup in Germany and EURO 2004 in Portugal.
Moreover, the Council adopted in November 2003 a Resolution on banning decisions which is an important instrument to banning hooligans from stadium.
Important work on spectator violence, stewarding, ticket sales, and the prevention of racism has been undertaken by the Council of Europe. We must continue to coordinate our efforts.
Justice. I note also the determination of judicial authorities to tackle hooliganism and finalise investigations. Recent weeks have witnessed one of the biggest hooligan trials held in Sweden, where twenty nine supporters of a Stockholm club were accused of assaults charges and clashes with the police.
Other aspects that have contributed to the improvement of safety and security are better stadia design, new national legislation, spectator control video monitoring, stricter ticketing procedures and stewarding systems.
But, that said, there still remains a threat.
Therefore, we must strengthen our efforts to prevent violence in sport both in professional sport and in amateur competitions. Amateur sport is the base for professional sport – and often involves children. If we wish to break the cycle of violence in sport we must start with young people. There must be no boundaries for tackling violence, racism and other forms of discrimination.
Gabriele Sandri's recent death highlights this need. His death, yet to be fully investigated, and the violent disorders that followed in some Italian cities demonstrate fragile environment surrounding sport.
Main pillars of the approach
Our efforts should be based on four main concepts:
1. Cooperation
2. Multidisciplinary approach
3. Responsibility and real commitment
4. Local action
Cooperation. This conference has shown the need to work together. Only through effective and harmonious partnership between the political, policing and sporting communities can results be achieved. No single agency can tackle the problems alone.
Multi-agencies exchange of information. Police need to work closely with sport organisers to assure no security and safety gaps exist at football matches. Information on known trouble makers should be exchanged between police and UEFA.
Stewarding services. I strongly encourage the development of efficient stewarding services. Many European countries have already done so and their added value is apparent. Constructive co-operation needs supporters' involvement. The club has a key role in creating an enjoyable environment by supporting law-abiding supporter associations.
This is also two-way: Supporters associations should also fully cooperate with clubs, local authorities and organisers.
Multidisciplinary approach. We need a response that is as comprehensive and complex as the threats we face. We must prevent disorder and disruption. Thus there must be incentives as well as dissuasive and repressive measures.
This needs longer term action involving joint working across the public, private and voluntary sectors.
Prevention. Preventive activities vary widely, ranging from club-run evening classes for child supporters, adventure activities organised for known trouble-makers, fan embassies at major tournaments, and fair-play campaigns.
Fan coaching. I truly believe that fan coaching is a key part of prevention. I know that fan coaching is difficult. Its results only emerge over the longer term and needs our continuing support. I strongly encourage these activities.
Responsibility. Everyone must assume responsibility to achieve a successful outcome. All parties should have a strong will and it is crucial that they make a real commitment to take action in their competences. If happens that the competence rules are not clear or uncertain, remedies should be brought to solve the gaps and implement the highest standards and arrangements of safety and security.
Clubs and local authorities' must develop a constructive dialogue, on the legal requirements and financial burdens of supporting fans, infrastructure, and security.
Club-supporters cooperation. There is also a need for improved club-supporter relations. [Clubs should value official supporters’ associations, encourage their setting up and promote their activities].
Social role of the clubs. Clubs should also acknowledge their wider social role. Football, and other sport, is a social phenomenon and part of society. The club can play a pivotal role in supporting broader social policies, supporting young people, and even encouraging good citizenship. I would like to see a permanent EU roundtable with the people responsible for security in the main football clubs of Member States. Meet together and exchange and experiences and best practices, play be trough a portal.
Some examples are:
The Leeds United's partnership with the UK Ministry of Education, to organise classes for children in difficulty at school.
Lille local government's “social unit” established to promote football in residential neighbourhoods, to organise amateur football tournaments, and to involve professional players in campaigns which highlight the value of sporting activities and sports ethics.
Actions on racism. The Football against Racism in Europe network (FARE) runs national and international campaigns.
We must build on and promote such examples. Perhaps it would be useful to appoint within every national association and leagues a responsible for “prevention and social programmes”, who would co-ordinate activities and provide institutional support for them?
Disadvantaged areas are an especially worthy target.
Role of the EU and local specificities. The European Union can help facilitate the exchange of operational data. It should act as a catalyst of best practice, of best solutions, and of national experiences.
Of course threats change. And there are national and local variations in both the problem and legislation and practice to address it. Thus European level activity must be flexible, respecting the principles of proportionality and subsidiarity.
Commission Involvement
Promotion of best practice and cooperation. The Commission intends to promote different approaches and measures contributing to tackling violence at sport events. This will include financial support for projects carried out by public and non governmental organisations, at national and local level. One of the priorities for the "Prevention and fight against crime" programme - with a budget of 600 million Euros for 2007-2013 – relates to hooliganism. There are also other financial programmes such as Youth in Action, Europe for Citizens, and Daphne III.
The Commission intends to grant financial support for training also for police and other security officers. This will compliment other training programmes, such as UEFA's. We intend to promote also a close involvement of both Europol and Eurojust, that can play a crucial role on prevention and repression when necessary.
The Commission is willing to help develop a platform for discussions among local authorities, law enforcement and clubs. This will bring people together to share knowledge, best practice and experience.
Involvement of EFUS and EUCPN. In association with the European Forum for Urban Security, representing more than 300 cities in the European Union, we want to consider possible partnerships. The European Crime prevention Network should also be closely involved in the development of cooperation, as a means of exchanging information and promoting an ambitious approach.
In conclusion, we are all responsible for stopping violence in and outside sports venues. Yes, our work is ambitious but the Commission is willing to support successful, relevant projects and develop cooperation among all the stakeholders.
Only by working together will we kick violence out of sport. We should go hand in hand to kick violence out sport.
Thank you for your attention.