Football violence incidents fall by 37%, but authorities warn of rise in “casuals”

Violence associated with professional football in Portugal has seen a significant decline during the first half of the season, with a 37% drop in incidents compared to the previous year. However, police authorities are concerned about the emergence of the “casual” movement—organised groups of fans who avoid traditional club affiliation to focus on pre-arranged physical confrontations. While pyrotechnics and direct assaults have decreased, officials note that violence is becoming more unpredictable and spreading to other sports like futsal and handball, necessitating enhanced surveillance and international cooperation ahead of the 2030 World Cup.