Chaos in the Youth Eon NextGen League: Punches, mass spitting, insults, threats, and violent behavior lead to a total fine of 2,350 euros

Published on 21. March 2024 21. March 2024

Photo: Rudar Velenje

Six days ago, a match was played in the Youth Eon NextGen League between Rudar and Olimpija, which was watched by around 300 spectators at the Ob jezeru stadium. The Ljubljana team celebrated a convincing victory, ending with a score of 4:0 for the guests from the Slovenian capital. However, the match also had a “third half”, in which Rudar supporters played the main role. They attacked the referees (with Miha Kamplet being the head referee), leading to the Slovenian Football Association (NZS) imposing severe penalties on the Velenje club.

Rudar has to pay a fine of 2350 euros, which is almost unimaginable for this level of competition. The NZS stated in its explanation that Rudar is “objectively responsible for unsportsmanlike, violent, and inappropriate behavior of their team’s supporters and for inadequate organization of the match“. In the subsequent disciplinary decision, it is noted that the referees were subjected to physical assaults, mass spitting, insults, threats, and violent behavior.

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Rudar defended itself, claiming that as the organizer of the match, it could not prevent such behavior by the fans. However, the NZS accuses them of, among other things: “Their supporters awaited the referees after the match at the exit, preventing them from safely leaving the field and spitting towards the referees. As a result, the referees retreated towards the center of the field and demanded from the home team representative to ensure their safe exit from the field. Subsequently, after about 10 minutes, the head of security approached them and escorted them from the field, stating that the safety of the referees is now ensured. However, on their way to the dressing room, despite the assurances of the head of security that a safe exit from the field is guaranteed, several home fans awaited them at the doors and on the stairs leading from the stadium to the rooms for officials. These fans verbally and physically attacked the referees, spat towards them, and poured liquid on them, resulting in the head referee receiving two blows to the head and the first assistant referee receiving one blow to the head. This caused the victims to suffer minor physical injuries, feelings of fear, humiliation, and endangerment.”

The Slovenian Football Association stated upon imposing the penalty that what happened in Velenje is “shameful for the football family and modern society, and the environment in which the actions were committed“. Additionally, they added at Brdo pri Kranju: “Such behavior is reminiscent of other times and intervention in an unlawful manner from a different environment, where physical retaliation and punishments are acceptable. Therefore, the disciplinary body concludes that such actions will not be tolerated in the football family in Slovenia, that there is zero tolerance towards them, and that in case of repetition, all measures will be taken to prevent such actions at this stadium for a longer period and ensure the safety, order, and integrity of football competitions.“

This text was automatically translated using AI.

Author: editorial Football Planet