COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION

of 22 April 1996

on guidelines for preventing and restraining disorder connected with football matches

(96/C 131/01)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the recommendation of the Council of the European Union for the exchange of information on the occasion of major events and meetings, adopted on 30 November 1994,

Having regard to the initiative submitted by the United Kingdom on 21 June 1995,

Having regard to the conclusion of the Council of the European Union on 21 June 1995,

Whereas there have been instances of serious disorder at football matches in a number of Member States including matches in international competitions, and whereas there is a need to ensure a consistent, coordinated, and effective response on the part of the police and the football authorities;

Whereas the Council believes that techniques and procedures which have contributed to the successful containment of disorder should be more widely and consistently applied in relation to international high-risk matches;

Whereas the Council considers that adoption of a more consistent approach to these problems would be likely to lead to a reduction in the number and seriousness of incidents of disorder;

Whereas some of the recent outbreaks of disorder can be linked to lax controls on ticket sales at the grounds on the day of the match;

Whereas recommendations have been adopted under the 1985 European Convention on Spectator Violence and Misbehaviour at Sports Events and in particular at Football Matches, for actions to be followed whenever the threat of violent disorder is foreseen by the country in which a football match is to be played,

HEREBY RECOMMENDS TO MEMBER STATES:

I. To draw on the recommendations of the Standing Committee of the aforementioned Convention, contained in the checklist of measures to be taken by organizers and public authorities concerning high-risk indoor sports events, in particular those that concern police cooperation adopted by Recommendation No 1/94 at its 14th meeting on 1 and 2 June 1994, which it considers to be particularly useful in preventing or containing disorder.

II. To follow the recommendations set out hereafter, in addition to those made under the Convention:

Information exchange

1. That Member States should use a common format for police intelligence reports about known or suspected groups of troublemakers. The common format should include an overall assessment of the potential for disorder, and detailed information in relation to travel by air, coach, private vehicles and rail. A copy of the suggested format is attached in the Annex.

2. That Member States consider transmitting these reports quickly and effectively, possibly by means of the 'football hooliganism` network of correspondents.

Cooperation on training

That, with a view to exchanging and disseminating information between Member States about techniques for preventing disorder at football matches, police officers should, where appropriate, be encouraged to attend relevant training courses held for police officers in other Member States.

Police cooperation

That the host country should formally ask the appropriate responsible authority of the other Member State or States for their police support, specifying the number of officers that are considered appropriate. The request should be submitted as soon as possible and ideally no later than four weeks prior to the match. Agreement can then be reached by the two authorities about the number and background of the officers.

Cooperation of supervisors

That, while the football authorities or clubs are responsible for appointing and training their stewards in those Member States where this role exists, the police should contribute to training programmes in order to promote close cooperation between stewards and police officers, recognizing the important role of stewards in supervising supporters and securing their safety, and thus enabling any police officers present at football grounds to concentrate on their main law enforcement duties.

Done at Luxembourg, 22 April 1996.

For the Council

The President

S. AGNELLI

ANNEX

STANDARD FORMAT FOR THE EXCHANGE OF POLICE INTELLIGENCE ON FOOTBALL HOOLIGANS

EUROPEAN COMPETITION FIXTURE

>START OF GRAPHIC>

. V. .

COMPETITION .

DATE .

VENUE .

KICK-OFF-TIME .

ASSESSMENT AND CATEGORIZATION OF SUPPORT

please indicate estimated numbers of supporters in brackets

A = peaceful []

B = some potential for confrontation or disorder especially alcohol-related []

C = violent or organizers of violence []

INTELLIGENCE: .

.

.

.

.

.

.

>END OF GRAPHIC>

TRAVEL INFORMATION

>START OF GRAPHIC>

. V. .

PRIVATE CAR/MINIBUS/CAMPERS/VAN, ETC.

OUTWARD/RETURN JOURNEY

(Please delete as necessary)

Description of vehicle: .

.

Make/colour: .

Registration No: .

Number of passengers: .

Categorization of passengers: .

.

.

Organized or independent travellers: .

Date/time/place of departure: .

.

Ferry company/ferry crossing/date/time of crossing: .

.

Channel Tunnel/dates/times: .

.

Motorways or other routes: .

.

.

Border crossing points/times: .

.

.

Time of arrival at venue: .

ACCOMMODATION

Stopovers en route if applicable and name of hotel/pension/campsite:: .

.

.

Hotel/pension/campsite at venue: .

.

.

COMMENTS

>END OF GRAPHIC>

TRAVEL INFORMATION

>START OF GRAPHIC>

. V. .

AIR TRAVEL

OUTWARD/RETURN JOURNEY

(please delete as necessary)

Scheduled or charter flight: .

.

Name of travel company: .

.

Name of airline or air operator and flight No: .

.

Date/time of departure: .

Departure airport: .

.

Number of supporters on flight: .

Categorization of supporters on flight: .

.

.

Organized or independent travellers: .

Date/time of arrival (show local time if appropriate): .

.

Arrival airport: .

.

ACCOMMODATION

Name of hotel/pension/campsite, etc.: .

.

.

.

COMMENTS

>END OF GRAPHIC>

TRAVEL INFORMATION

>START OF GRAPHIC>

. V. .

RAIL TRAVEL

OUTWARD/RETURN JOURNEY

(Please delete as necessary)

Date/time of train: .

.

Departure station: .

.

Number of supporters travelling: .

.

Organized or independent travellers: .

.

Ferry company/date/time of crossing: .

.

Channel Tunnel/date/time: .

.

Departure station after crossing: .

.

Date/time of train: .

.

Date/time of arrival: .

.

ACCOMMODATION

Stopovers en route if applicable and name of hotel/pension/campsite: .

.

.

Hotel/pension/campsite at venue: .

.

.

COMMENTS

>END OF GRAPHIC>

TRAVEL INFORMATION

>START OF GRAPHIC>

. V. .

COACH TRAVEL

OUTWARD/RETURN JOURNEY

(Please delete as necessary)

Name of company: .

.

Number of coaches: .

Description of vehicles/livery: .

.

.

Registration No: .

Number of passengers on each vehicle: .

Categorization of passengers on each vehicle: .

.

Organized or independent travellers: .

Date/time/place of departure: .

.

Ferry company/date/time of crossing: .

.

Channel Tunnel/dates/times: .

.

Motorways or other routes showing border crossing points/dates/times: .

.

.

Stops/locations/times: .

.

.

Estimates time of arrival at venue: .

.

ACCOMMODATION

Stopovers en route if applicable and name of hotel/pension/campsite: .

.

.

Hotel/pension/campsite at venue: .

.

.

COMMENTS

>END OF GRAPHIC>