2002/348/JHA: Council Decision of 25 April 2002 concerning security in connection with football matches with an international dimension
Date: 2002-04-25
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: EU police cooperation, disclosure of information, professional sport, public safety, sporting event

8.5.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 121/1

(Acts adopted pursuant to Title VI of the Treaty on European Union)

COUNCIL DECISION

of 25 April 2002

concerning security in connection with football matches with an international dimension

(2002/348/JHA)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in partic-
ular Article 30(1)(a) and (b) and Article 34(2)(c) thereof,

Having regard to the initiative by the Kingdom of Belgium,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (1),

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

Under the terms of Article 29 of the Treaty, the Euro-
pean Union's objective shall be to provide citizens with
a high level of safety within an area of freedom, security
and justice by developing common action among the
Member States in the field of police cooperation.

As a result of various
international and European
competitions and large numbers of travelling supporters,
football is becoming highly international in scale. That
international
it necessary to approach
security in connection with football matches in a way
extending beyond national borders.

scale makes

Football should be regarded not
just as a potential
source of problems regarding breaches of law and order
or security but as an event which, in spite of the possible
risk, has to be handled efficiently.

for

the purposes of preventing and
In particular
it is important to
combating football-related violence,
exchange information, so that
the competent police
authorities, and the authorities in the Member States,
can make proper preparations and provide an appro-
priate response.

For exchange of information in relation to a football
event and with a view to the necessary international
police cooperation in connection with football matches
with an international dimension, it is crucially important
to establish a national football information point of a
police nature in each Member State.

Having regard to the adoption by the Council of Europe
of the following acts: the Convention of 28 January
1981 for the protection of individuals with regard to

automatic processing of personal data, Recommendation
No R(87)15 of 17 September 1987 of the Committee of
Ministers regulating the use of personal data in the
police sector and the European Convention of 19
August 1985 on spectator violence and misbehaviour at
sports events and in particular at football matches.

(7)

(8)

On 26 May 1997, the Council adopted Joint Action
97/339/JHA with regard to cooperation on law and
order and security (2), and on 9 June 1997, a Resolution
on preventing and restraining football hooliganism
through the exchange of experience, exclusion from
stadiums and media policy (3).

Furthermore, on 6 December 2001, the Council adopted
a Resolution concerning a handbook with recommenda-
tions for international police cooperation and measures
to prevent and control violence and disturbances in
connection with football matches with an international
dimension,
least one Member State is
involved (4),

in which at

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

Establishment of a national football information point

1.
football

Each Member State shall set up or designate a national

information point of a police nature.

2.
Each Member State shall notify the General Secretariat of
the Council in writing of the details of its national football
information point, and any subsequent amendments, under this
Decision. The General Secretariat of the Council shall have
them published in the Official Journal.

3.
The national football information point shall act as the
direct, central contact point for exchanging relevant informa-
tion and for facilitating international police cooperation in
connection with football matches with an international dimen-
sion.

(1) Opinion delivered on 9 April 2002 (not yet published in the Offi-

cial Journal).

(2) OJ L 147, 5.6.1997, p. 1.
(3) OJ C 193, 24.6.1997, p. 1.
(4) OJ C 22, 24.1.2002, p. 1.

L 121/2

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

8.5.2002

A Member State can decide to carry out certain contacts on
football-related aspects through the services competent
for
those specific aspects, on condition that the national football
information point is supplied, promptly and adequately with a
minimum of information.

Each Member State shall ensure that its national football
fulfilling efficiently and

4.
information point
promptly the tasks assigned it.

is capable of

The general information exchanged in connection with a
2.
football match with an international dimension shall comprise
strategic, operational and tactical information. Such informa-
tion shall be defined as follows:

— strategic information: information specifying all aspects of
reference to security risks

the event, with particular
involved in it;

— operational information: information providing an accurate

picture of proceedings in the course of the event;

This Decision shall apply without prejudice to existing
5.
national provisions,
in particular the allocation of powers
among the different services and authorities in the Member
States concerned.

— tactical information: information enabling those in charge
of operations to take appropriate action for the purposes of
maintaining order and security in connection with the
event.

Article 2

Tasks of national football information points

1.
National football information points shall be responsible
for coordinating and facilitating police information exchange in
connection with football matches with an international dimen-
sion. Such information exchange may also involve other law
enforcement authorities contributing to security or law and
order in accordance with the distribution of powers in the
Member State concerned.

2.
National football information points shall, in accordance
with the domestic and international rules applicable, have
access to information involving personal data on high-risk
supporters.

3.
National football information points shall facilitate, coor-
dinate or organise the implementation of international police
cooperation in connection with football matches with an inter-
national dimension.

4.
In accordance with existing national provisions, in partic-
ular the allocation of powers among the different services and
authorities in the Member States concerned, national football
information points could be responsible for providing assis-
tance to the competent national authorities.

5.
For matches with an international dimension, national
football information points shall provide, at least at the request
of another football
in a Member State
information point
concerned, a risk assessment of their own country's clubs and
national team.

Article 3

Police information exchange between national football
information points

Before, during and after a football event with an inter-
1.
national dimension, national football information points shall
engage, at the request of a national football information point
concerned or on its own initiative,
in mutual exchange of
general information and, subject to the conditions laid down in
paragraph 3, personal data.

3.
Personal data shall be exchanged in accordance with the
domestic and international rules applicable, taking account of
the principles of Convention No 108 of the Council of Europe
of 28 January 1981 for the protection of individuals with
regard to automatic processing of personal data and — as
appropriate — Recommendation No R (87)15 of
the
Committee of Ministers of
the Council of Europe of 17
September 1987 regulating the use of personal data in the
police sector. Such exchanges shall be with a view to preparing
and taking the appropriate measures to maintain law and order
when a football event takes place. Such exchange may in
particular involve details of individuals actually or potentially
posing a threat to law and order and security.

Article 4

Procedure for communication between national football
information points

1.
Handling of information on football matches with an
international dimension shall be coordinated by way of
national football information points. They shall ensure that all
the police services concerned receive the necessary information
in time. After processing, information shall either be used by a
national football information point itself or be passed on to the
relevant authorities and police forces.

2.
The national football information point in the Member
State hosting a football event shall communicate, before,
during and after the competition or match, with the national
police force(s) of the Member States concerned, where appro-
priate via the liaison officer(s) appointed and supplied by such
Member States. Liaison officers may be contacted in the subject
areas of law and order and security, football-related violence
and ordinary crime, where it is connected with a particular
football match or tournament.

3.
National football information points shall communicate
in such a way as to preserve the confidentiality of data.
reports
Provided that personal data are not concerned,
exchanged shall be kept on record. They may be consulted
subsequently by other interested national information points,
on condition that the national football information point from
which the information originates is offered the possibility in
advance of taking a position on the delivery.

8.5.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 121/3

Article 5

Use of languages

Article 7

Operative data

National football information points shall each communicate
in their own language, with a translation in a working language
common to both sides, save as otherwise arranged between the
parties concerned.

This Decision shall come into effect on the day following that
of its publication in the Official Journal.

Done at Luxembourg, 25 April 2002.

Article 6

Evaluation

The Council shall evaluate the implementation of this Decision
within two years of its adoption.

For the Council

The President

M. RAJOY BREY