Filenews 6 August 2024
The new football year seems to be entering as the Police and the Ministry of Justice do not come to terms with the CFA on the issue of the movement of fans.
The ministry and the police, in a stricter letter, warn the CFA that a stadium that is not covered by the security certificates will not be policed. In fact, he notes that if the security certificate is not delivered to the responsible police officer on time, then the match will not take place.
It is now expected that the two letters from the Ministry of Justice and the Police will be discussed on Thursday at the CFA General Assembly.
Filenews obtained the letter from the Police to the CFA today. 2/8/2024.
Initially, the Police in its letter notes that the decision of the Federation for the return of fans to the stadiums is respected and adds that it will be present during the new football season at the sports venues and will act as always, within the framework of its responsibilities for the maintenance of law and order and for the safety and safeguarding of the physical integrity of fans and the protection of the property of third parties.
At the same time, it emphasizes that it will fully exercise the powers and responsibilities granted to it by the Prevention and Suppression of Violence in Sports Venues Law of 2008 and which concern the safe conduct of games. "We stress that deviation or non-observance of any of these measures will result in the non-policing of the match, since its safe conduct will not be ensured."
In this context, the Police also points out the following:
(a) According to Article 4 of the Law, the sports venues where the games are expected to take place must meet the conditions mentioned in the article. The owners/managers of the premises should, based on paragraph 1 of the article, submit to the Stadium Licensing Authority, for the purpose of issuing the safety certificate, all the necessary data and certificates from the competent authorities, valid for a period of one year.
In addition and in accordance with subsection 2 of the law, the owners/managers of the premises together with the security officer must, before the conduct of the match, issue and deliver to the Chief of Police the security certificate provided for in the subsection. The Police note that according to subsection 4 of the same article, a sports venue not covered by the safety certificates may not be used for the holding of a match. It is noted that the Stadium Licensing Authority and the Chief of Police "in their sphere of competence, should check the correctness of the data and certificates necessary for the issuance of safety certificates".
He also points out that the safety certificate should be delivered in time to the responsible police officer at least four hours before the match, so that he can examine its correctness during the inspection of the security measures of the sports venue. At the same time, it is noted that according to the law, the administrator, the security officer and the organizer of the race comply with the instructions of the Chief of Police.
(b) According to Article 4B(1) of the Law, the Stadium Licensing Authority has the duty and authority to license the operation of sports venues and to issue by 30 June of each year, the safety certificates for these venues, which are valid for a period of one year. In accordance with subsection (3) of the Article, any decision of the Authority shall be notified to the CMO and the federation concerned.
The Police emphasizes that it has proceeded in time with the inspection of all sports venues where the matches of the new football season are expected to take place and has sent in writing its recommendations for improvements and upgrades of these venues to the owners-managers and the Stadium Licensing Authority.
It also notes that given that a sports venue that is not covered by the safety certificates is not allowed to be used for the holding of a match, the Police request information before August 10, whether the sports venues that will be used for the matches of the new football season have secured a safety certificate and an operating license.
(c) Regarding the supervisors, the Police requests that their number meet the needs of each match. As it states, the supervisors required are decided at a meeting three days before the match and in case it is found that effective security services are not provided, the referee in consultation with the security officer may not conduct the match, after taking seriously into account the views of the Police.
(d) Before the race, the Chief of Police shall inform the organizer of any objections he may have regarding the security measures or any other special measures provided for in the provisions of the Law and which must be taken.
In fact, the Police point out to the CFA that its Chief has the power, with the approval of the Minister of Justice and with the agreement of the organizer, not to police a match, in cases where it is found that the measures indicated and necessary for its safe conduct have not been taken.
Timely information
The Police note in their letter that they will promptly inform the CFA of the ban on the movement of fans of the away team, in any case where they find that fans are exhibiting such behaviour or there is information about reasonable suspicion that they may cause incidents of violence inside or outside sports venues.
