The main points of the forthcoming legislation, as well as the other initiatives to tackle the fan violence presented today (21/2, 11:30) by the Government. The announcements will be made at the General Secretariat for Information and Communication, by Minister of Citizen Protection, Takis Theodorikako, the Minister of Justice, Costas Tsiaras, the Deputy Minister of Sport, Lefteris Avgenakis and the Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister and Government Spokesman, John Economou.
Among the measures to be announced, there will be very strict provisions on the operation of the Supporters' Clubs and their Branches (Associations), direct linking of FAE/CAAs and amateur clubs with the operation of the Clubs and administrative sanctions, creation of a digital register of Club members etc.
Also, a key measure will be both the tightening of the proper name (with no window for suspension of sentence), as well as the prohibition of the use of hoods by fans and in general anything that does not allow the unhindered identification of faces.
The ratification by the Parliament of the Council of Europe Convention on Safety and Security at Sporting Events, the ratification of the compulsory entrance to the gates of the organised events only with season tickets and identity checks, the intensification of checks on the links between groups, the training of police officers on the basis of European standards, etc.
An insight into the measures to deal with fan violence - hooliganism, gave the Minister of Citizen Protection, Takis Theodorikanos, in his statements yesterday in the morning news programme of SKY, «Kalimera».
«The Government, the State, is responding to the absolute popular demand to put an end to fan violence and hooliganism. First, hooligan links, end,» he first stressed and continued: «The Greek police have already closed down dozens of them this season and will close down the rest who are operating illegally. The operation of the fan clubs will be subject to conditions, which will be announced today. And secondly, as already announced by the Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the penalties are increased. Be well aware that those who believe that they can participate in incidents of fan violence, hooligan actions will be punished with penalties involving deprivation of liberty, there's not going to be no parole. The singular will prevail. The clubs and the clubs, in football and basketball, have to put their backs into this affair and realize that their strength is not the hooligans. Their strength is to have peace, entertainment, a nice atmosphere, inside the stadiums, to attract families. To get the family to go to the stadium, to get the young kids to go and enjoy the spectacle and the sport, whether it's football or basketball or any sport. The job of the Greek police is to enforce these measures to the fullest extent. And from what you have seen, the Police, not only does not give in to anyone, but puts into practice that: the Law is the Law, it applies to everyone , regardless of their position in the public system or their economic power. The associations that have been closed during this period of hooligans are associations from all groups, we do not spare anyone because we have this case of obligation and duty from the Greek people’.
