By Jaroslaw Adamowski
March 31 – The Greek government has unveiled a draft bill designed to curb the growing trend of in-stadium fan violence at football matches.
Under the plan, the state authorities will be able to impose fines of between €10,000 and €25 million for violent incidents, postpone or scrap football matches, as well as prevent teams from taking their places in European competitions.
Deputy Sports Minister Stavros Kontonis said that the draft legislation includes “emergency measures to combat violence”. It is to be voted in the country’s parliament in the coming weeks.
In an interview with the Swiss-based paper Neue Zürcher Zeitung, Kontonis said that other measures to overhaul Greek football will include the introduction of electronic tickets identifying the purchaser, more robust surveillance at stadiums, and intensified efforts by clubs to control their fans.
The latest initiative follows a decision taken earlier this year to suspend the top three league divisions. The move was triggered by the outbreak of violence at a match between Athens-based sides Olympiakos and Panathinaikos. It also marked the third time that professional football in Greece had had its programme suspended in the current season. Greece’s top tier Superleague restarted this month.
“We seek the cooperation of all statutory bodies and are confident that we will succeed in our common goal,” Kotonis said.
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