Hooliganism in the UAE will be in for a tough fight, a law enforcement official said.
Although police are overseeing a new committee to prevent hooliganism at sports matches, officials differ about the extent of the problem.
Brigadier Khamis Al Suwaidi, deputy director of community services at Dubai Police, told Gulf News the committee will ensure individual cases of hooliganism do not develop into common culture.
"Until now, we don't have a problem," he said, "but we aren't waiting for it to be a problem."
A memo distributed to committee members on August 24 said instructions had been given emphasising "the importance of putting a limit to hooliganism at sport stadiums before it becomes commonplace in the nation."
"Hooliganism is here in the UAE and the world in general. In our sports stadiums, it's a problem of male youth who respond because a judge has given a warning to their favourite team," said Major Jasim Mirza, director of Sports Media at Dubai Police.
"The main problem is with soccer clubs, because it's the most popular."
Hooliganism was the fault of "audiences, sometimes judges, sporting officials and the press, who can incite tensions." Police, he said, were not excluded from blame. "Sometimes, police behaviour in cracking down harshly can cause youth to react badly."
Mirza said sports clubs had an important role in raising awareness about proper audience behaviour at sporting events and relevant laws.
"Sports clubs should put up signs that hooliganism is culturally backwards. They should show laws preventing hooliganism and prevent the entrance of some people into stadiums if they have a past of hooliganism."
The committee against hooliganism will initially focus on children of school age and on soccer. Later, it plans to branch out to other sports. The committee was created alongside another to address security at sports stadiums.
"That covers everything from seating, chairs, parking, entrances and exits," Brig. Al Suwaidi said.
The safe stadium committee is headed by Brig. Mohammad Al Mansouri, head of Dubai Police's protective security and emergency unit.
Both committees were set up by Lt. Gen. Dahi Khalfan, Dubai Police Chief. Members of the committee to prevent sports violence include representatives from the UAE Soccer Union, sports clubs, sports journalists and Dubai Police.
Brig. Al Suwaidi said the committee will use ways "unique to the UAE. We don't have major problems that would need us to turn to other countries."
The committee will look to the press to pass along the message that harsh penalties and legal action will be taken in riots when people are hurt or property is damaged. An awareness campaign will be carried out at schools and on sports TV channels.
UNIQUE CONFERENCE
Curbing crime through sport
Police will host a conference that talks about how to reduce criminal behaviour through sports – a first for the Arab world.
Sports versus crime will be held November 22 to 24 at the Dubai Police Officers Club in Garhoud. In an exclusive interview with Gulf News, Major Jasim Mirza, director of sports media at Dubai Police said the conference has three aims.
"To encourage a healthy programme through sport, overseen by the police; to find out the role of sports in fighting crime; and for researchers in the UAE to talk about their experience."
Maj Mirza said Dubai Police is interested in studies showing that sport reduces crime, particularly among juveniles and young adults.
"Sport clubs attract youth, particularly during the summer. Without it, these kids might be in the streets, facing dangerous environments. From that, we can say that sports can reduce crime."
The conference highlighting the relationship between sports and reduced crime is the first of its kind in the Arab world.
Maj Mirza said participants had signed up from Australia, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, the UAE, the UK, the United States and Yemen. For more information, contact 04-3241304 or 04-3241107, or e-mail keepfit@emirates.net.ae.
Gulf News
