By Jaroslaw Adamowski
August 15 – In a bid to boost attendance of football matches in Poland, the parliament’s Physical Culture and Sports commission has unveiled a legislative proposal to scrap supporters’ cards which are currently a prerequisite for attending Polish league matches. Under the plan, the cards will be cancelled in the 2015/2016 season.
The cards, which are currently issued to supporters by clubs, will be replaced by regular identification documents, such as ID cards or passports, enabling fans to purchase tickets online without prior registration at stadiums. This will also allow supporters of local sides to attend matches hosted by rival clubs.
“These modifications are designed as a nod towards [football supporters], as without them [matches] are dead,” Andrzej Betkowski, an MP for opposition Law and Justice (PiS) party, told local daily Dziennik Gazeta Prawna.
Supporters’ cards have been compulsory at Polish stadiums since 2009. Back then, their introduction was presented as a measure to bolster security and curb violence at football matches. However, some observers accuse the introduction for hampering the growth of match attendances in Poland. In some instances, supporters of one club would be banned from attending matches of clubs located in different parts of the country.
The modified mass sports events bill is to be submitted for modification this August.
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