Safety, Security and Service: the Saint-Denis Convention

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Back The Netherlands ratifies the Convention on safety, security and service in sport

On 6th of February 2020, the Permanent Representation of the Netherlands deposited the instruments of ratification, for the European part of the Kingdom, of the Council of Europe Convention on an Integrated Safety, Security and Service Approach at Football Matches and Other Sports Events (CETS No. 218), and of the denunciation of the European Convention on Spectator Violence and Misbehaviour at Sports Events and in particular at Football Matches (ETS No. 120).

The Netherlands is the 14th State Party to ratify this Convention, also known as the Saint-Denis Convention, which entered into force on 1 November 2017.

The Convention CETS No. 218 will enter into force in respect of the Netherlands on 1 April 2020, and the denunciation of the Convention ETS No. 120 will take effect on 1 September 2020.

Strasbourg, France 10 February 2020

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The Council of Europe Convention on an Integrated Safety, Security and Service Approach at Football Matches and Other Sports Events was opened for signature on 3 July 2016 in Saint-Denis (France), at a UEFA EURO 2016 quarter-final match.

To date 29 States have ratified the convention and 10 have signed it.

Showcasing the Saint-Denis Convention

Full text of the Convention

Explanatory Report of the Convention

Non-official translations of the Convention

What is the purpose of this convention?

This convention builds upon the work done internationally since the adoption of the European Convention on Spectator Violence in 1985.
This Convention is the only internationally binding instrument to establish an integrated approach based on three interdependent pillars: safety, security and service.
Its aim is to go from a violence-focused approach towards an integrated approach based on safety, security and service.
It provides measures based on the highest safety, security and service standards developed in Europe.
It also promotes co-operation between all public and private stakeholders, including supporters, in order to provide a safe, secure and welcoming environment at football matches and other sports events.