Prague - Football hooligans could be banned from entering a football stadium for up to ten years, proposed by Interior Minister Ivan Langer in an amendment to the penal code.
"We would like this sanction to be incorporated into the new penal code that is being drafted," said Langer to Aktuálně.cz.
At the moment, judges are allowed to ban rowdies from attending matches, but for only a limited period of time.
"Today, judges can order a ban only when the offender is placed on probation for disorderly conduct. As a result, the bans last no longer than one year," explained Martin Linhart from the ministry.
The new sanction is part of a new framework of measures to fight violence at football matches, which the government is scheduled to discuss on Wednesday.
Special manual
Along with the police and the Interior Ministry, the Football Association of the Czech Republic (ČMFS) and the Office for Personal Data Protection participated in the drafting of the proposed law.
Langer managed to persuade officials of Czech football clubs that no new legislative regulations are needed.
Instead of new competences, football clubs and organizers will be given a special manual on how to use current measures to cope with rowdy fans.
My home, your castle
Starting January 2009, police will no longer be present at football stadiums. The responsibility for maintaining order will be solely with the organizers.
"The rule will be simple - the stadium owners will make sure that their visitors behave themselves. Entering the premises of private property is like visiting someone else´s home - you are obliged to behave," explained Miroslav Platil, security manager of ČMFS.
Stadium officials will have a number of rights and authority. Private security agencies will be authorized to control visitors´ IDs and search for arms or fireworks at stadium entrances.
Training provided by police
At the same time, they will be subjected to stricter legal control.
"It is crucial that the organizers are well trained, the police will assist in this," Linhart said.
The ministry suggested clubs use current legal measures. For example, they are allowed to temporarily detain a person that commits a crime until he or she is arrested by the police.
Closed stadiums?
Should the clubs fail to comply with all legal requirements, they might end up being sanctioned, too.The minister may even decide to close the stadium to the public.
"I hope that I will never be forced to use this measure," says Minister Langer.
On top of that, ČMFS is planning to install camera systems in all major stadiums. "We hope we will manage to complete it before the end of the year," Miroslav Platil from ČMFS said.
Interior Ministry mulls establishing a global register of "violent football fans".
