Pro League Action Plan Racism and Discrimination
Football has not had the best of weeks, with Sunday’s racism affair in the top match between Club Brugge and Anderlecht as the low point. Trainer Kompany was furious on Sunday after the 2-2 draw in the top match against Club Brugge. Not because of the game of his team, but the behavior of the Bruges supporters that, according to the coach, verbally abused the players. The Pro League emphasised once again on Monday that such matters have no place in football and published the following Action Plan.
“With equality, respect and diversity as its goals, football must be one of the leading sectors in the fight against racism and homophobia in society. It is our collective responsibility never to accept inequalities and to reject and condemn all forms of discrimination and racism, in order to fully subscribe to an inclusive society.
As a member organisation and organiser of Pro League competitions, the Pro League is authorised to develop a policy and to elaborate awareness actions and communication campaigns. Individual sanctions towards spectators who go over the line have to be applied through the Internal Regulations of each club or through the government, in the context of public order. Sanctioning of a club is done via the disciplinary bodies of the KBVB, which are independent of the Pro League in accordance with the principle of Good Governance.
The Pro League has a quality anti-racism policy, based on experience, knowledge and research from expert organisations and experts (players and former players). This plan focuses on sensitisation and awareness on the one hand and repression and education on the other. It is also supported by all the clubs, the Royal Belgian Football Association, the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office, the amateur wings, the Football Unit and the police authorities.”
Below is an overview of the actions since the Board rolled out the action plan in 2018:
- Manual ‘Discriminatory and offensive speeches and statements’.
The manual (2019) contains building blocks for clubs to develop their own policy on offensive and discriminatory speeches in and around the stadium. This manual has been translated into several languages and used by other European top leagues and organisations in football.
Click here for more information.
- Pro League hotline
On 21 March 2021, the International Day against Racism and Discrimination, the Pro League proposed its own hotline. Speeches that affect the identity of fans while they are experiencing their passion have no place in our sport. Anyone who is the victim or witness of an incident in or around the stadium can now report it via a hotline on the Pro League website.
Click here for the hotline.
- Training courses
On 13 October 2021, the Pro League and Kazerne Dossin kicked off the next phase of the Pro League’s anti-discrimination and anti-racism plan.
From now on, supporters who violate provisions concerning (all forms of) racism and discrimination in the stadium can be referred to a specific training programme at Kazerne Dossin, with links to the football context and mass dynamics. In addition, a preventive training course is also being developed for employees in match organisation and safety.
Click here for more information.
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