The National Football League continues to see violent incidents at stadiums this season. While some fights have led to arrests, it doesn’t appear to be slowing the problem down. Some experts say alcohol allowed at stadiums could be to blame, Scripps News reports. A survey by Sportsbook Review found that nearly 40% of fans surveyed have witnessed a crime at or around an NFL stadium, including physical violence and public intoxication. Last week, a fight broke out between Buffalo Bills fans during a Monday night football game. Last month, a fight between San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders fans broke out during a game at SoFi Stadium, and in September, two women were seen fighting during a 49ers game at Levi’s Stadium. These are just a few of the incidents that have been caught on camera this season. The NFL did not comment, but the league told the Daily Mail Sport last month that safety is a “top priority” and that it deplores “the activities of a handful of fans who interfere with the enjoyment of others.”
The NFL released a fan code of conduct in 2008 designed to encourage a stadium environment that is enjoyable for all. It says that any fan who violates the provisions could lose “ticket privileges for future games.” This includes “behavior that is unruly, disruptive, or illegal in nature." Obie Bryant of Bryant Safety and Security says it’s important for security personnel to recognize major problems. “The key is for ... foot patrol officers to be out actively, proactively looking over the crowd and making sure that if anything appears to be getting out of hand, that they are deploying officers to those particular areas of the stadium,” said Bryant. He adds, “Football games can be emotional, and then you add the fact that people are not as skilled now at having disagreements without being disagreeable, and you throw alcohol into the mix. You've got a recipe for something that can happen."