Justice and Security Minister David van Weel announced the experiment on Monday morning. Registered football hooligans with a restraining order will be provided with a so-called 'Mini ID', which will let the authorities know if the person is near a football stadium. The experiment will run for eight months and be rolled out in the cities of Leeuwarden, Utrecht, and Rotterdam.
Hooligans with restraining orders have to report on their Mini ID for verification at certain times during a match. This is done by fingerprinting. This allows the police to see if they are complying with the ban. A digital reporting requirement is more convenient and creates less work for the police than if rioters had to come to the police station themselves. Up to 45 people with restraining orders can participate in the experiment.
Former Justice and Security Minister Dilan Yesilgoz-Zegerius introduced the anti-hooliganism measure with a digital reporting obligation in 2023 after a Dutch Eredivisie match between Ajax and Feyenoord resulted in massive riots by the home crowd. 15 rioters got arrested after severely damaging club property, and the club were fined €25,000 by the Dutch FA.
