By Mark Baber
March 26 – Chairman of the Czech Football Association, Miroslav Pelta has responded to violence at Saturday’s match between Baník Ostrava and league leaders Sparta Prague by calling for anti-hooligan measures to be adopted with the return of police to stadiums and fan registration cards mooted.
There were violent scenes in Ostrava on Saturday with rival fans attacking each other and around a dozen injuries as police used stun grenades, dogs and tear gas to try and restore order. The second half was delayed, but the game continued, despite a large proportion of fans having fled the stadium to escape the chaos. 31 arrests were made, with six charged so far and more charges expected.
Pelta said: “It would be irresponsible to wait for a deadly tragedy to happen.” He met with the Minister of Education Youth and Sport, Marcel Chládek, on Monday as the Czech public debates how to stamp out hooliganism.
Chládek echoed Pelta’s concerns saying: “So many such incidents have occurred. I have lost patience with this. I ask how much longer shall we wait? Until someone is killed? We must clearly intervene.”
Consideration is being given to allowing the return of a permanent police presence in stadia to supplement stewards and private security firms. Further measures under consideration include introducing a fan registration scheme, as current banning orders against offenders are impossible to enforce.
After Monday’s meeting it was announced the football association and education ministry will be setting up a working group, involving clubs and local authorities, to report back with specific recommendations on legislative and other steps to tackle football hooliganism.
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