FOOTBALL – For many supporters, the jitters can be felt again. The ball will roll again from tomorrow evening on the fields of the professional football clubs. With a beer, sandwich ball or program booklet in hand, many people seek his familiar place in the stadium again. On the other hand, it is becoming increasingly difficult for supporters to travel their club after, but the Netherlands supporters collective is done with that. “Enough is enough.” And fans of FC Emmen think so too.
According to supporters collective, home and fans no longer have to be separated from each other. In this way, the interest group wants to increase the sense of safety around competitions and reduce the number of incidents. So that stricter measures or completely empty outlets – by order of the authorities – are the past.
“Why couldn’t it be possible,” FC Emmen supporter Jordy Robben welcomes the initiative. “With us, something rarely or never happens. It goes well ten times actually ten times well. But if things go wrong with supporters, it will be magnified. I think you should look at the bigger picture.”
According to Robben, who is also involved in Supporters Association Zuidtribune, it must be possible to welcome fans of, for example, VVV-Venlo and FC Eindhoven without restrictions on the Oude Meerdijk. And vice versa.
Supporters collective Nederland, which represents more than fifty supporters associations, acts against the “record number of empty outlets” through criminal and precautions last season. According to the organization, the separation of home and fans leads to polarization. “By consciously opting for the mixing of supporters outside the stadium there will be acceptance instead of hatred,” it can be read in a statement.
Out and home supporters who walk together, mayor Eric van Oosterhout of Emmen can already be poked for it. He says he is open to initiatives from supporters’ associations to promote the atmosphere around stadiums.
“Most supporters are good and we have to go back to normal proportions,” he speaks out. “In short; how nice it would be that supporters can meet in advance. That also happens in many places in England and Germany.” According to the mayor, supporters can then look up their own profession to watch the game. “If the supporters of FC Emmen want something like that, I would like to start the conversation.”
Supporterscollectief Nederland has made a step -by -step plan because “change costs”. The first step would be to organize one game next season in which the supporters mix. In 2035, the final goal should be achieved from free transport and supporters at every competition.