Almeirim fined for misconduct at sports venues
Concerned about the normalization of inappropriate behavior at sports venues, Mayor Pedro Ribeiro of Almeirim secured fines for these actions in order to “change the mindset” and promote the sport “as a school of virtue.”
This measure is the next step in the Parents of Athletes – Responsible Parents project, which over the past three years has aimed to sensitize sports associations and agents to modalities and levels of preparedness for the adoption and promotion of the values of urbanism in sports.
Now “one more step has been taken” and Santarem County has announced that it has met with GNR, so the law “which already exists” begins to apply in March, and disrespectful speech, incitement to violence or intolerance at sports venues is punished with a fine, which can range from 750 euros to 10 thousand euros “for everyone”.
Pedro Ribeiro refers to Law 39/2009, “which exists, but no one ever wanted to get too upset about this issue because, as a society, we have largely normalized these situations,” says the mayor, who is uncomfortable. taking their six-year-old son to sports venues where there is no language barrier, foul language and insults are common.
“In January and February we will keep people informed,” he said, adding that the law will later be applied to raise awareness for those outside the four lines, although work has been done with clubs and associations so there are also sports penalties in within the field in case of improper behavior.
The Mayor of Almeirima explained to Lusa that the judges have already received a sheet in which, in addition to the usual report, they must write down “things that are considered normal, but which should not be normal,” as municipal officials did. indications of lack of sportsmanship.
“On the field, judges must also show a great intolerance to certain actions and words,” he said.
The Mayor understands that many bad examples come from professional sports agents and can lead fans and other athletes to believe in the legitimacy of reproducing unwanted attitudes, which cannot be the case, as insults sometimes develop into “worse behavior”.
Pedro Ribeiro emphasized the importance of “changing habits”, using tapes on site by security forces as a deterrent and a way to get people to “think twice” about the words they say, and to warn other fans. be attentive and attract the attention of neighbors.
“Sport plays an important role in the development of children. We want to glorify sport and create the conditions for sport to be what it has always been: a school of virtue, where you also learn to cope with disappointment and lose, ”Mayor of Lusa told Almeirim agency.
For Pedro Ribeiro, competition cannot simply be a race for classifications that obliterates fundamental values.
“In sports, we need to teach sports, but also values, and one of the values is urbanism,” stressed the Mayor of Almeirima, for whom this measure should be implemented on a different scale.
Pedro Ribeiro was ready to convey to the federations “the steps taken and the difficulties encountered.”
In Almeirima, the autarchy rules “helped the clubs get more support in applying their internal rules” in a disciplinary way, said Pedro Ribeiro.
As there are more practitioners in the sport, less worthy situations come to light in football, and the President of the Portuguese Association of Football Referees (APAF) Luciano Gonçalves welcomes this initiative, which he wished was widespread.
“There are many laws in our country, but we do not abide by them, and I congratulate the Chamber of Almeirim for having the courage to do so,” said Luciano Gonçalves, who says he is not “utopian” and therefore believes that this measure will not affect professional football in any way.
The referee cites the example of court decisions based on the argument that certain behavior is normal in football, and since such normalization exists, “the idea that everything in football is tolerable does not ultimately punish itself.”
“I liked that there was no need to punish in this, it was a sign that we managed to create a sports culture, but everything has a beginning. I believe that, starting with the rank and file, it is normal in the future that this type of behavior will no longer exist, ”the APAF president predicted.
