Security in connection with football matches with an international dimension. Initiative Belgium

PURPOSE : Belgian initiative for a Council Decision concerning security at international football matches. CONTENT : With a view to controlling football-related violence, this initiative seeks to ensure that each Member State sets up a national football centre of a police nature. Its primary tasks would be to: - coordinate police information exchange in connection with international football matches. - control information involving personal data on high-risk supporters. Such data will be exchanged in accordance with the domestic and international rules applicable. - make available, on a permanent basis, a risk assessment in respect of its own country's clubs and national team, for the benefit of national football information centres in other Member States. The general information exchanged will comprise: - strategic information, particularly security risks. - operational information providing an accurate picture of proceedings during the event. - tactical information enabling appropriate action to be taken to maintain order. Contacts between police forces in different countries involving a footballing event will be arranged for by national football information centres. There is a provision on the preservation of data confidentiality.�