Over the past three seasons, Charleroi has faced a notable escalation in disruptive behaviour, ranging from increased pyrotechnics and match interruptions to coordinated misinformation campaigns and public demonstrations targeting club leadership. Simons shared how these developments have placed significant organisational and financial pressure on the club, including substantial league fines and recurring operational risks.
In his presentation, he outlined the measures Charleroi has implemented to restore control and reinforce safety: strengthened internal regulations, closer collaboration with police, enhanced CCTV systems, continuous dialogue with supporter groups, and a stricter zero-tolerance approach. He also highlighted the systemic issue facing Belgian clubs: while they carry full responsibility for matchday safety, the current legal framework provides limited tools to act swiftly against offenders.
Simons closed by calling for greater alignment between clubs, leagues, authorities and legislators, as well as a more modernised approach towards identification technologies and supervised pyrotechnics.
