Pro League

The Royal Belgian Football Association had the pleasure of giving a guest lecture to the students of KU Leuven. During this session, we shared insights into the workings of Belgian football and engaged in discussions about the key challenges and developments in the sector. Topics discussed: ✅ The structure of the RBFA: regulatory powers, executive and disciplinary bodies ✅ The role of a legal expert in football: defending the interests of Belgian football in legal proceedings ✅ Disciplinary proceedings ✅ Current topics such as dual nationality among players, transgender individuals in football, and contingency contracts in amateur football ✅ National and international transfers The interactive discussion and enthusiasm of their students made it an engaging and inspiring exchange! Many thanks to Pro League and KU Leuven students for your involvement!

‼️🔊In addition to Simon Mignolet, we're thrilled to announce that Mats Rits, Colin Coosemans, and Lior Refaelov have also enrolled in our groundbreaking course for aspiring and current technical directors. These football stars are already investing in their future, preparing to make a lasting impact on Belgian football beyond their playing careers. The course, launched in collaboration with the Pro League and the University of Antwerp will provide the tools and insights needed to unlock the full potential of your club. With the first session starting in September 2025, we’re excited to welcome a select group of participants who are eager to take on the challenges and responsibilities of this important role. Spaces are still available, but they are filling up fast! If you're ready to take the next step in your career, now’s your chance to join this elite group of football professionals. Don't miss out on the opportunity to be part of this unique learning experience. Register now via 🔗 https://lnkd.in/e_v7Y33c

𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗠𝗔 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆 & 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 🎥 Watch the 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗲 and read the full event summary in our article – packed with insights, case studies, and key takeaways from both days: https://lnkd.in/eNcPw5tQ Innovation & Collaboration for Safer Stadiums On 24 & 25 March, ESSMA welcomed over 50 stadium and safety professionals from 12 countries to Belgium for a dynamic two-day workshop. The event brought together clubs, leagues, solution providers, and security experts to exchange best practices and explore innovative tools for a safer matchday experience. 📍 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟭 – 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 & 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 Pro League (𝗗𝗶𝗲𝗴𝗲𝗺) Topics included: ✅ Identity-based ticketing & digital KYC (Pro League) ✅ Facial recognition for safety enforcement (Divisionsforeningen / Danish League) ✅ Juventus Football Club’ integrated technology approach ✅ Case study on European away matches (Ferencvárosi Torna Club) ✅ Balancing atmosphere & safety (Stadion Feijenoord N.V.) ✅ Supporter management strategies (Royal Charleroi Sporting Club) The day ended with interactive group discussions and networking opportunities. 📍 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟮 – 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗟𝗲𝘂𝘃𝗲𝗻 Highlights: 🏟 Stadium tour of OHL’s King Power at Den Dreef OH Leuven 🔥 Panel discussion on pyrotechnics: risks vs. realism 🎤 Keynote from John Beattie (former Arsenal, ESSMA President) 💡 Immersive lighting by Signify as a safe alternative to pyro 🥂 Networking lunch to close the event 🔑 𝗧𝗼𝗽 𝟱 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀: -Preparation is everything – safety starts before kick-off -Tech is a tool, not a cure-all – integration is key -Trust & responsibility go hand in hand -Clubs need stronger enforcement powers -Safety and fan experience can enhance each other The 2025 edition confirmed that collaboration, innovation, and shared learning are essential to delivering safe and engaging stadium environments across Europe. 📸 View the workshop photos on our Flickr: https://lnkd.in/eSTWM-g2 🔒 Presentations available exclusively to ESSMA Members: https://lnkd.in/enQPkXqE Thank you to our sponsors: Signify, roboticket. , FanForce, SKIDATA, Extreme Networks #ESSMA #StadiumSafety #MatchdayOperations #ESSMAWorkshop #StadiumManagement

Ticketing Summit 2025 = wrapped up! ✅ 🎫 | De Pro League organiseerde woensdag samen met roboticket. haar jaarlijkse Ticketing Summit en kondigde er de verlenging van het partnership aan! 🗣️ | Des cas d'utilisation ont été examinés, les clubs ont partagé leurs best practices et l'avenir du 'Fan Engagement' a été débattu lors de tables rondes. 🎙️ | Special thanks to Michal Pyda, Maksymilian Szymkowiak, Adam W. Piotrowicz, Tijs Cools, Lotte Denoo, Tim Evens, Billie Silverans en Martin Goossens.

Class act 👏👏

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📍 Day 1 Recap – ESSMA Safety & Operations Workshop 2025 Today we concluded a successful first day of the ESSMA Safety & Operations Workshop in Brussels, bringing together stadium professionals from across Europe for a day of knowledge sharing and collaboration. The day began with three insightful presentations on biometrics and stadium safety: 🔹 Pro League – How identity-based ticketing increases control for clubs and supports proactive fan management. 🔹 Divisionsforeningen / Danish League – How biometric data can help exclude unwanted individuals from stadiums. 🔹 Juventus Football Club – How technology, including specialised camera systems, enhances stadium safety procedures. In the afternoon, three real-life case studies offered valuable operational insights: 🏟️ Stadion Feijenoord N.V. – An open book approach can lead to engaging fan activities, but does not eliminate the risk of incidents, as shown during the 2024 KNVB Cup final. 🏟️ Royal Charleroi Sporting Club – Addressed the imbalance between club responsibilities and the limited legal framework for enforcing safety measures. 🏟️Ferencvárosi Torna Club – Highlighted the importance of streamlined communication around safety for European away matches. Participants analysed each case during interactive working group sessions, with group representatives presenting their findings and practical takeaways to the full audience. We concluded the day with a networking drink and dinner, fostering informal exchange and strengthening connections within the ESSMA community. 🎤 Special thanks to our speakers for sharing their expertise and experience: Stijn Van Bever, Tim Vlaeminck, Kasper Bach Kragh, Tim Berggren, Bernard Gerritsma, Bálint Máté, PMP, Olivier Simons, Rocco Santoro and our moderator John Beattie 🤝 A sincere thank you to our partners for their support and contribution to making this event possible: SKIDATA, roboticket. , Extreme Networks, Signify and FanForce Tomorrow, we continue in Leuven with a stadium tour and sessions on pyrotechnics, live entertainment, and preventive safety strategies. #ESSMA #StadiumSafety #OperationsExcellence #Networking

𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩 ‘𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐞𝐜𝐡’ ❌🗣️ 🙌 | Afgelopen dinsdag organiseerde de Pro League samen met CEJI een interactieve workshop over online haatspraak. De communicatie-, social media- en CSR-medewerkers van een 20-tal clubs kwamen te weten hoe online haatspraak gedefinieerd wordt, wat de Belgische wet hierover zegt en gingen aan de slag met enkele concrete cases. ▶️ | Enfin, nous sommes revenus sur les éléments concrets sur lequels les clubs peuvent travailler en termes de prévention, de protection des joueurs et du staff, de modération du contenu et de signalement des discours de haine illégaux.

🔵 Welcome to the ESSMA Safety & Operations Workshop 2025! 🔵 Today, we officially kicked off our two-day event in Brussels & Leuven, where safety and operational excellence in stadiums take centre stage. We opened the workshop with welcoming words from Pro League and ESSMA, setting the tone for insightful discussions and knowledge sharing on some of the most pressing topics in stadium safety management. 👥 Our diverse group of attendees includes representatives from leagues, clubs, and industry stakeholders across Europe – all united by a shared commitment to innovation and safety in stadium operations. Today's programme covers a wide range of essential topics, including: ✔ Identity-based ticketing systems ✔ Technology & process implementation to streamline safety procedures ✔ Biometric access control on a league level ✔ Case studies: incidents and key learnings ✔ Interactive working-group session We look forward to two productive days of exchanging knowledge, sharing best practices, and exploring new approaches to safety and operations in the stadium environment. A special thank you to our sponsors roboticket. , Signify, SKIDATA, Extreme Networks and FanForce for their support in making this event possible! #ESSMA #StadiumSafety #OperationsExcellence #Networking

KV Mechelen gives most minutes to Belgian-trained players 👏 🇧🇪 | Voor het vierde seizoen op rij behaalt KV Mechelen het hoogst aantal speelminuten voor Belgisch opgeleide spelers. 🍼 | Nos compétitions se sont de plus en plus profilées comme de véritables compétitions de formation pour les jeunes joueurs. 🥇 | Achter KV Mechelen vervolledigen FCV Dender EH, KRC Genk, RSC Anderlecht en Club Brugge de top vijf. 📈 | Ce classement ancre l’importance de la formation par récompenser les clubs qui accordent le plus de minutes de jeu à des joueurs formés en Belgique. 🇳🇱 Lees meer: bit.ly/4hqf1WF 🇫🇷 Lisez plus: bit.ly/4iJWZ2N