Doc. 8766

8 June 2000

Football hooliganism

Recommendation 1434 (1999)

Reply from the Committee of Ministers

adopted at the 711^th meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies (31 May 2000)

The Committee of Ministers was interested to take note of Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation 1434 (1999) on football hooliganism. It shares the Assembly's opinion that hooliganism continues to pose a threat for this sport and the need to back up the indispensable security measures with educational, social and cultural measures and strategies to prevent hooliganism.

In this context the Committee of Ministers once more condemns the misbehaviour and violence which too often accompany sports events and have in the past led to serious injuries and deaths. Such incidents highlight the need for constant vigilance to prevent possible outbreaks of violence and hooliganism.

Several of the measures advocated by the Assembly come within the scope of the European Convention on Spectator Violence and Misbehaviour at Sports Events and in particular at Football Matches. The Standing Committee established under the said Convention has to date adopted 16 recommendations which cover virtually all aspects of the Convention and as such provide a response to most of the concerns expressed by the Assembly. A list of these recommendations is appended to this reply.

Nevertheless, these recommendations would possibly produce only limited effects unless they were accompanied by energetic measures designed to eradicate violent attitudes and behaviour by means of education for tolerance and fair play. As early as 1996, the Standing Committee joined forces with the Committee for the Development of Sport in carrying out a project on "the contribution of sport to bring about a democratic and tolerant society".

With an eye on the sports highlight of the year in Europe, namely the European Football Championship, the Standing Committee organised a seminar on hooliganism (November 1998 in Berlin) and a conference on the social dimension of sport (November 1999 in Strasbourg), which provided opportunities for very fruitful exchanges of knowledge and pooling of experience, together with the adoption of recommendations aimed at optimising the social potential of football.

The Committee of Ministers also believes that the strict application of the undertakings made by the States Parties to the Convention on Spectator Violence and Misbehaviour at Sports Events would serve the cause of eradicating hooliganism. The Committee for the Development of Sport carries out a monitoring exercise on the undertakings of member states with regard to sport which helps to increase the level of awareness, in member states and other countries, of the need for effective measures to combat hooliganism. The Standing Committee of the European Convention on Spectator Violence and Misbehaviour has set up a special working party on the European Football Championship which is currently concentrating on preparations for the competition and will subsequently evaluate the measures taken.

The Committee of Ministers wishes to inform the Assembly that Recommendation 1434 (1999) has been communicated to member state governments.

Appendix to the Committee of Ministers' reply

Texts adopted by the Standing Committee

Recommendation No. 1/87 on alcohol sales and consumption

Recommendation No. 2/87 on crowd searches

Recommendation No. 3/87 on police co-operation

Recommendation No. 1/88 on the use of advisory police "spotters"

Recommendation No. 2/88 on preparations for major events

Recommendation No. 1/89 on guidelines for ticket sales

Recommendation No. 2/89 on comprehensive report on measures to counter hooliganism

Recommendation No. 1/90 on identification and treatment of offenders

Recommendation No. 1/91 on the promotion of safety at stadia

Recommendation No. 2/91 on international police co-operation for international football

matches and tournaments

Recommendation No. 1/93 to Parties on measures to be taken by the organisers of football matches and public authorities

Recommendation No. 1/94 to Parties on measures to be taken by organisers and public authorities concerning high-risk indoor sports events

Recommendation No. 1/97 on the use of standard forms for the exchange

of police intelligence concerning high-risk sports events

Resolution No. 1/97 on the use of non discriminatory terms

Recommendation No. 1/99 on stewarding

Recommendation No. 2/99 on the removal of fences in stadiums

Recommendation No. 3/99 on the identification and treatment of offenders and the exchange of intelligence at the European Football Championships (EURO 2000)