In the Netherlands, they are tightening the rules for fans during matches. What can a match be stopped for now?

The Dutch Football Association has decided to tighten up the rules for fans in the stadium very drastically. They are now threatened with the end of the match for an activity that happens regularly on Czech pitches.

At the beginning of April, a match between Ajax and Feyenoord in the Netherlands took place during which a spectator threw a lighter onto the pitch.

It hit Ajax Amsterdam footballer Davy Klaasen. The person who was guilty of throwing the object onto the pitch was arrested.

The referees were subsequently criticised for allowing the game to continue after the incident. The Dutch Football Association decided to react to the incident and introduced new rules.

If an object is thrown onto the pitch, the referee must stop the game. The teams and the referees will go to the dressing rooms. If play resumes and any object is thrown on the pitch again, the match will be stopped immediately.

A stricter standard occurs when a footballer is hit by a thrown object. In this case the match is immediately abandoned.

The Football Association has also decided to react to a possible spectator running onto the field of play. If someone decides to take a moment on the pitch to bask in their glory, they will be putting their team at great risk.

If the person runs onto the pitch, the referee will stop the game and take the players to the changing rooms. Should the incident recur, the game will be immediately terminated.

A more severe action will be taken should a footballer be assaulted and the match will be stopped immediately.

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