Starting next season, members of the Belgian Football Association (KBVB) who misbehave as supporters at professional football matches will face sporting sanctions, according to an announcement by the Pro League on Thursday.
Players, coaches, or officials behaving inappropriately as spectators during Pro League matches and receiving stadium bans will be referred to the relevant disciplinary bodies. These bodies may impose sports bans of up to one year.
The Pro League aims to reduce incidents at football stadiums, which have already decreased. “Our collective efforts are showing results: incidents dropped by 10% compared to the 2023-2024 season,” said CEO Lorin Parys. Over the past three seasons, there have been 678 individual stadium bans, totalling more than 820 years of exclusion.
In addition to KBVB’s sporting penalties, the Pro League will focus on dialogue in the coming season. The Safety Commission will be strengthened and involved in the broader discussion about football law reform and match safety frameworks. “Our goal is to work with all parties involved—from police and management to supporters—to foster a positive football culture,” Parys stated. “Safety is not just about enforcement; it’s about enhancing engagement and involvement.”
