BOGOTA, May 24 (Reuters) - Colombia introduced a new sports law on Tuesday aimed at curbing soccer-related violence and ensuring clubs do not fall behind in paying players' wages.
"What we cannot tolerate is that the violent and dangerous behaviour of some fans turns stadiums into battlefields and not the arenas of peace they should be,"
President Juan Manuel Santos said at the presentation of the new law.
Violence in and around stadiums has increased in recent years in Colombia where it is commonplace for hooligan gangs to fight each other and throw objects at players and referees from the stands, fans to be killed and shops attacked and looted.
"With this law, (hooligans) will have to think twice before disturbing a match. We're talking of one to five years in jail for those who throw dangerous objects, not only inside a stadium but anywhere related to the sporting event," Santos said.
Sentences will be greater for the use of explosives, incendiary devices and chemical substances while physical violence, verbal abuse and damage to facilities will be punished with fines and bans from stadiums of up to five years.
The law also protects the labour rights of professional footballers with suspensions for clubs if they fall behind in paying players' wages and social security contributions.
Three first division clubs, including Apertura championship leaders Once Caldas, were threatened with bans in April over unpaid wages while the Deportes Quindio squad went on strike and did not turn out for one match, which was played by a junior team beaten 5-0.
"We don't want a repetition of the story that players don't receive what is just and reasonable, I mean their salaries," Santos said.
"It isn't logical that the sportsmen should give of their best on a pitch, for their team and their fans, with their pockets and stomachs empty."
Santos said the government had set aside funds to help clubs get up to date with pay commitments and would be vigilant to ensure they are not run with illegally obtained funds.
The president of the league governing body Dimayor, Ramon Jesurun, told Reuters three weeks ago that Colombia's largely successful war on drugs might paradoxically have contributed to the impoverishment of many clubs dependent on drugs money.
"What we cannot tolerate is that the violent and dangerous behaviour of some fans turns stadiums into battlefields and not the arenas of peace they should be,"
President Juan Manuel Santos said at the presentation of the new law.
Violence in and around stadiums has increased in recent years in Colombia where it is commonplace for hooligan gangs to fight each other and throw objects at players and referees from the stands, fans to be killed and shops attacked and looted.
"With this law, (hooligans) will have to think twice before disturbing a match. We're talking of one to five years in jail for those who throw dangerous objects, not only inside a stadium but anywhere related to the sporting event," Santos said.
Sentences will be greater for the use of explosives, incendiary devices and chemical substances while physical violence, verbal abuse and damage to facilities will be punished with fines and bans from stadiums of up to five years.
The law also protects the labour rights of professional footballers with suspensions for clubs if they fall behind in paying players' wages and social security contributions.
Three first division clubs, including Apertura championship leaders Once Caldas, were threatened with bans in April over unpaid wages while the Deportes Quindio squad went on strike and did not turn out for one match, which was played by a junior team beaten 5-0.
"We don't want a repetition of the story that players don't receive what is just and reasonable, I mean their salaries," Santos said.
"It isn't logical that the sportsmen should give of their best on a pitch, for their team and their fans, with their pockets and stomachs empty."
Santos said the government had set aside funds to help clubs get up to date with pay commitments and would be vigilant to ensure they are not run with illegally obtained funds.
The president of the league governing body Dimayor, Ramon Jesurun, told Reuters three weeks ago that Colombia's largely successful war on drugs might paradoxically have contributed to the impoverishment of many clubs dependent on drugs money.
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