The KNVB has stated that it is ‘completely done’ with the misconduct in the football stadiums. The football association writes in a press release that it will take stricter measures if matches get out of hand again. “The field is sacred,” said the association, which indicates that it will stop matches more quickly in the future in the event of misconduct.
During the Classic between Feyenoord and Ajax, Davy Klaassen suffered a head injury. The midfielder of Ajax was hit by a lighter, which was thrown from the audience. “A scandalous incident,” writes the KNVB. The union is taking action. “Thanks to these steps, potential perpetrators will hopefully no longer take it into their heads to attack the main players on the field. We are completely done with that.”
In recent weeks, objects have been thrown onto the field in football stadiums several times. In a statement, the KNVB makes it clear that from now on the referee will stop the match if that happens again. If the game is resumed and objects are thrown onto the field again, the game will be permanently stopped. In a situation similar to the lighter on Klaassen’s head, the match will even be stopped definitively from now on.
Field stormers
The union also stands up against field entrants. When a supporter comes on the field, the teams go into the locker room. If they resume the game and another supporter enters the field, the game will be stopped permanently. When a supporter enters the field and attacks a player or referee, the match is immediately stopped.
“Safety in and around a stadium is a top priority and we do this together with clubs, supporters, municipalities, the Public Prosecution Service, the police and the cabinet. The starting point remains that football must be accessible, hospitable and safe for all real supporters,” says the KNVB.