English Experts Show Croatians Counter-Hooliganism

Stadiums should be made in a way to make people feel civilised, said Adlesic, as one counter-hooligan measure.

The recent disorder that the Croatian fans caused in Prague during Dinamo’s football match there provoked condemnation by most of the Croatian public, as well as Europe. Because of these events, and many others caused by hooliganism, Cabinet representatives travelled to London in order speak with the experts there about measures that will stop the repetition of such unpleasant incidents.

According to the words of Cabinet vice-president Djurdja Adlesic, nothing was decided in the end, and the proposed advice by their English colleagues will be considered by the new Minister of Internal Affairs Tomislav Karamarko. Berislav Roncevic accompanied Adlesic on the trip, however he had to urgently return to Croatia at the request of premier Ivo Sanader, and was relieved of duty the same night.

Djurdja Adlesic stressed that for a start, experts from the English Home Office talked with fans in Croatia, and founded a special unit for combating hooliganism at football matches. They would also regularly speak with the Croatian Football Federation in order to find a successful way of stopping disorder at matches.

Besides education, the plan includes the possibility of banning certain individuals from football matches, as well as some other measures.

“Stadiums should also be modified so that people feel more civilized in them” said Adlesic.

“The fans could be accompanied to the country where their club is playing, in order to get to know the city they are going to” said the vice-president of the Cabinet. She added that police officers would be equipped for efficient reactions whilst foreign fans were guests in Croatia.

England brought a law on stopping violence at sports events quite late, claims Adlesic, which means that Croatia, if it gets down to business with the problem, has lots of room to solve it.