Mexico Lawmakers Approve Bill to Punish Violence in Sports Events with Prison Agence France-Presse
go to original March 28, 2014

Last week's clash between Chivas fans and police started soon after the lighting of flares in the stadium's upper tier. (Refugio Ruiz/LatinContent/Getty Images)

Mexico's lower house of Congress approved legislation Thursday to impose up to four years in prison for fan violence at sporting events, days after football aficionados fought police at a game.

The bill calls for prison terms ranging between three months and four years for acts such as storming fields, throwing harmful objects, attacking people, bringing weapons into stadiums, inciting violence and participating in brawls.

The bill requires clubs to create a registry of violent fans who would be barred from attending events.

On Saturday, fans of Mexico's most popular football club, Chivas de Guadalajara, fought with police after authorities sought to put out flares during a game against their western city rivals Atlas.

Some 40 people were injured and 12 detained.

The bill, which was approved 317-34, must now pass the Senate.

See the original at GlobalPost

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