Police say violence at soccer games down

102 criminal cases involving violence at stadiums were investigated this past year, compared to 123 last year.

By YAAKOV LAPPIN
Israel soccer 311 (photo credit: Denis Balibouse/Reuters)
Israel soccer 311
(photo credit: Denis Balibouse/Reuters)
The soccer season of 2010- 2011 saw a drop in the number of violent incidents, police said on Wednesday.
According to figures presented by the Israel Police’s head of Operations Branch, Cmdr. Nissim Mor, 102 criminal cases involving violence at stadiums were investigated this past year, compared to 123 last year. Fifty-four people were arrested and 75 were detained during the incidents this year, compared to 61 arrested and 82 detained last year, Mor added.
“These figures point to an important and significant change but there is still work to be done,” Mor said. “The vision, that eventually there will be no need for police officers at stadiums, is gradually being realized,” he said.
Other measures such as collective team punishments handed down by the Israel Football Association for racist chants by fans are also having a positive effect, he said.