KAA Gent
Everyone who cares about football wants these sport events to take place in a peaceful, friendly and pleasant atmosphere. This requires cooperation from everybody.
These rules for internal order apply in all football stadiums, except for the special provisions of article 15.
- These rules for internal order apply in the whole of the Ghelamco Arena complex located at Ottergemsesteenweg Zuid 808 in 9000 Gent during all football matches organized by KAA Gent. All persons entering this complex must take note of these rules, accept their provisions and abide by them.
- Any person turning up at the entrance to the stadium must be in possession of either a valid ticket of admission, or a special permit provided by the organizer that authorizes them to be on the premises. The ticket of admission grants a one-time admission to the stadium. All persons on the premises of the stadium must at all times be in possession of this ticket of admission or special permit.
- The ticket of admission shows the designated seat in the stand or area; the holder of the ticket of admission shall occupy this seat. lt is strictly prohibited to be at or go to another stand, lot or part of the stadium, and to take up another seat in the stand than the one stipulated on the ticket of admission without prior permission from someone from security. Anyone buying, obtaining or transferring their ticket of admission or special permit is severally and indivisibly liable with the final holder for any damages said holder causes in the stadium.
- However, access to the stadium is forbidden or denied to anyone: If security reasons compel the organizer to deny someone access to the stadium or to have them removed from the premises, neither the organizer nor the distributor are under any obligation to refund the ticket of admission.
- who is clearly under the influence of alcohol, drugs or any other stimulant;
- who has been given a football banning order by an organizer, national or international football association or federation, administration or judicial authorities;
- whose conduct clearly shows intent to disturb the peace, either directly or by inciting to commit assault, bodily harm, hatred, anger...;
- who, in accordance with the second paragraph of article 5, is denied access to the stadium by stewards carrying out security checks to verify compliance with these regulations.
- Every holder of a ticket of admission or special permit who wants to enter the stadium must submit to having their ticket of admission or special permit checked. Stewards may request same-sex holders of a ticket of admission or special permit to voluntarily submit to a superficial check of their clothing and luggage, the aim being to detect objects whose presence in the stadium can disrupt the course of the match, endanger spectators' safety, and disturb the peace. Stewards may request holders of such objects to hand them over.
Stewards will deny access to the stadium to anyone resisting a security check or refusing to hand over such objects as mentioned in the previous paragraph, to anyone who has been found to be in the possession of a weapon or dangerous object, or to anyone who in any way acts contrary to the provisions of one or more articles of these rules.
Some objects of normal use, like motorcycle helmets and others, may be held temporarily, to be returned after the match. Users may voluntarily deposit such objects for free and will receive a ticket in return that they may use, and that will be necessary, to retrieve their object after the match. Articles 1915 to 1954 quater of the Civil Code are applicable. - Holders of a ticket of admission or special permit who attempt to gain access to the stadium as well as persons inside the stadium are forbidden to bring inside, have someone else bring inside, or be in the possession of the following objects. Unless permission is granted by someone from security, animals are not allowed into the stadium.
- alcohol, bottles, glasses, cans, drugs, or stimulants, etc.;
- projectiles, or solid, fiuid or gaseous explosives;
- flammable products or materials, spray cans;
- pyrotechnics such as Bengal flares, etc...;
- any weapon or dangerous, cutting or blunt object that could be used as such (sticks, chains, hitting weapons, stabbing weapons, thrusting weapons, etc.);
- anything used as a means for disturbing the peace, endangering the safety of the crowd and/or causing harm to property and people.
- Inside the stadium, holders of a ticket of admission or special permit are strictly forbidden:
- to, without permission from the Belgian Pro League/VV/ACFF or RBFA, make (audio)visual recordings of matches for reasons other than personal, non-commercial use in private space. This ban does not apply to accredited press photographers, camera crew or journalists, as long as they operate within the rules and limitations of their accreditation or as long as they operate within the boundaries of the contracts concluded between the Belgian Pro League/VV/ACFF or RBFA and their commercial and/or media partners. It is by any means prohibited for anyone to sell images for commercial ends without permission from the rights’ holder (player, club, league)
- to, without valid and prior written approval from either the organizer or the Belgian Pro League/VV/ACFF or RBFA, collect match dates, scouting dates and/or collect statistics or take part in collecting them through wireless networks or otherwise (for example to offer or facilitate live betting) unless it is for their own non-commercial, private ends.
- to be in those areas of the stadium that their ticket of admission or special permit does not grant them access to, such as service rooms, dressing rooms, neutral and VIP zones, press rooms, offices, private rooms, the playing field...;
- to climb onto buildings, constructions, fences or enclosures, partitions, light masts, dug-outs, roofs, or any other stadium structure or infrastructure, and/or to stand up on seats or benches before, during, or after the game;
- to obstruct access and evacuation routes, stairs, stairways, and hall, and to remain in such places for longer than strictly necessary to enter and leave the stadium;
- to disguise themselves or to avoid being recognized;
- to disturb the peace or endanger the safety of the public;
- to sell or put up for sale drinks, food or any other product without express permission from the organizer;
- to throw or shoot any object, liquid, or any other loose or gaseous product at or into the playing field, surrounding area or stands;
- to smoke in non-smoking areas;
- to urinate in public places;
- to harm people and/or the stadium's infrastructure;
- to place banners, flags or any other objects without prior permission from the organizer;
- in addition, flags, banners or other objects may not:
- be hung in front of advertising boards;
- obstruct the view of the playing field;
- obstruct evacuation routes;
- prevent recognition
- All texts, symbols, chants, gestures, banners and unseemly comments that in any way lead to racism, homophobia, xenophobia, provocation and discrimination are forbidden in the stadium.
- Anyone present in the stadium shall at all times follow the directions provided by the officials appointed or authorized by the game organizer. Failure to comply with these directions may lead to expulsion from the stadium.
- For reasons of security, the organizer reserves the right to:
- assign the holder of a ticket of admission another seat than the one mentioned on the ticket of admission;
- pause or suspend the game;
- temporarily keep spectators in the stadium at the end of the game;
- completely or partially evacuate the stadium;
- deny someone entry to the stadium in spite of their being in possession of a valid ticket of admission.
- Holders of a ticket of admission or special permit obtained from the organizer enter the stadium at their own risk. The organizer cannot be held liable for theft or accidents.
- As per the Act of 8 December 1992 on the protection of privacy in relation to the processing of personal data, modified by the Act of 11 December 1998 transposing Directive 95/46/EC of 24 October 1995 of the European Parliament and the Council on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, spectators are hereby informed that for security reasons the organizer collects data and enters them into an automated file. Said Act regulates the processing of and right to access personal data. Any person entering the stadium may be filmed and these images may be registered and stored. The registering and storing of these images by police and/or the organizer takes place for the sole purpose of ensuring and maintaining security inside the stadium.
The aim of any image processing will be to prevent and detect actions sanctioned by the Football Act of 21 December 1998 on the safety at football matches, and all its modifications and adaptations, as well as offences and infringements of these rules for internal order, and to enable the identification of their perpetrators so that they may be prosecuted. - Any person who has been denied access to the stadium, has been removed from the stadium on orders from the organizer, or fails to comply with the provisions of these rules for internal order, may be banned from attending football matches through the operative civil exclusion procedure..
- Any person causing harm to persons and/or property and/or the stadium is liable to criminal prosecution. The Football Act of 21 December 1998 on the safety at football matches, and all following modifications and adaptations, and its implementing decisions are applicable.
- Special provisions applicable to the Ghelamco Arena.
- There is a general mask requirement in and around the Ghelamco Arena. This will remain in place as long as the covid measures are in force.
The usual masks must be used. Balaclavas and the like are not regarded as masks. Persons who use these in or around the stadium will be refused entry. - It is prohibited to bring paper shreds, confetti, toilet-paper rolls, stickers or laser pens to the stadium.
- TIFO actions organized by supporters using flags and such are subject to prior approval by the club, police and fire brigade.
- Since 1/7/2017 a so-called “sfeervak” (a standing section without fixed seats, with the aim of boosting the atmosphere) has been established. All rules and regulations with respect to good use of this area are set out in a charter between the club and the initiators.
- Entering the stadium while in the possession of gas horns or vuvuzelas is prohibited.
- Flagpoles are allowed under the following conditions:
- flexible and light;
- hollow;
- made of plastic;
- made in one piece;
- height: min. I m and max. 1.5 m;
- one pole per flag - A general smoking ban (including e-cigarettes) is in effect in all interior spaces of the Ghelamco Arena.
As of 10 October 2020 - as a result of the Covid agreements - this smoking ban will also apply in all outdoor areas/stands/seats located within the stadium walls. - Motorcycles or bikes may only be parked in those areas surrounding the Ghelamco Arena that have been designated for this purpose.
- Fines imposed by the RFBA or UEFA, following violations of this code of conduct can be passed on to those breaching the code by KAA Gent
- There is a general mask requirement in and around the Ghelamco Arena. This will remain in place as long as the covid measures are in force.
Ghent, 1/7/2017