How one football club decided to use crocodiles to deal with unruly supporters

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FT Desk

Historically, football clubs have used a range of methods to try to and deal with unruly fans.

Clubs often work closely with the police and security staff to monitor supporters and identify people who may cause trouble. They may use CCTV cameras, increased security at stadiums, searches at entrances and separate areas for rival supporters.

Some clubs also use education and community programmes to encourage positive behaviour among supporters. By combining security measures, punishments and efforts to promote responsible fan behaviour, football clubs aim to make matches safer for players, staff and supporters.

Pitch invasions, specifically, can become a real headache for clubs, players and the police.

So, what happens if pitch invasions are routine?

That was the case in Nicolae Balcescu, a small village in Romania. The club, FC Steaua, had been threatened with expulsion from their league after a series of pitch invasions and clashes with police - despite rarely having attendances higher than 100 people.

The Vilcea County Football Association informed the club and chairman Alexandru Cringus that if such incidents continued, they would be kicked out of the fourth division in Romania.

Originally, he hatched a plan to put a moat around the pitch to stop supporters from interrupting the action. Then, he had a bright idea after visiting a local pet shop.

"I set my men to dig the moat, and filled it with water," he revealed. "Now you will only see ducks swimming there, but in the spring everybody will get a real shock. I had an idea, which is maybe crazy, but I think it will help us.

"I was in Rimnicu Vilcea when I saw a crocodile in a pet shop. I asked how much it cost, and when I found out they are only €470, I went straight to local businesses to sponsor them. As soon as it is warm enough, I will introduce them to the ditches. No fan will be brave enough to jump across the ditch. I don't think we'll have any trouble with pitch invasions now."

Many, with warrant, thought this was all an attempt at humour from Cringus but his plans were very serious.

“This is not a joke,” he inisted at he time.

“We can get crocodiles easy enough and feed them on meat from the local abattoir. The ditch is planned to be wide enough that no one could manage to jump over it. Anyone who attempted to do so would have to deal with the crocs. I think that the problem of fans running on to the pitch will be solved once and for all.”

Alas, the FC Steaua chairman was mercifully not given planning permission for the moat by the local authorities.