Italians aim to outlaw soccer hooligans

SOCCER fans banned from matches in their own countries could be refused tickets for next year’s European Championship in Portugal.

The Italian government is proposing new tough measures to cut down on football hooliganism in advance of next year’s games. They currently hold the European Union presidency and are expected to propose tighter restrictions at the next meeting of justice ministers in Brussels in September to cut down on violence.

There are already a range of measures in place where police from different countries co-operate to prevent known hooligans from attending major international matches. Interpol has been very active in this area in the past few years and has targeted organised groups that travel from one country to another specifically to create trouble.

The proposals from the Italians intend to go a step further by, in effect, creating an EU-wide banned list and making it a criminal offence for anyone on the list to try to get into a stadium for a game. They would be charged under the laws of the country concerned and could be jailed where the laws allow preventative detention.

The proposals were welcomed by Munster MEP John Cushnahan who said not enough action has been taken in the past by governments to prevent football hooliganism.

“I welcome the fact that the current Italian presidency of the EU is bringing forward proposals to control this menace in advance of next year’s European Championship in Portugal”, he said. He says the proposals should be discussed not only with member states but also with national football associations and organisations representing genuine soccer fans.

“Hopefully, at the end of the exercise, the EU collectively will take the necessary action to ensure that sporting skills rather than hooliganism dominate the headlines in Portugal.”