by Jack ThackrayHungarian soccer stadium – Groupama Arena – has successfully used biometrics to wipe out hooliganism, with no reported occurrences in the last three years.The 23,500 seater stadium, home to 29-times Hungarian Champion Ferencváros, implemented a palm-vein system three years ago, having experienced the scourge of regular violence, pyrotechnics and racist abuse in its past. Despite initial resistance by a portion of their supporters, the result has been a family-friendly environment, where more than 100,000 users are registered in the system.BioSec Group Ltd, the company behind the technology, says its StadiumGuard solution creates a zero tolerance ethos, ensuring only named ticketholders are admitted, and that they do not appear on a black list. To use the system fans put their hand above the vein sensor positioned at one of the 36 stadium gates to gain admission.The success of the system has been dramatic with the company claiming there have been no incidences of hooliganism since its implantation.Despite this result, BioSec Group CEO, PÉter Györgydeák, admits there is still an uphill battle to convince some fans that the system is necessary – with boycotts taking place when the system was first implemented. “In people's minds, access control is equal to tickets, cards and PIN codes, so it is understandable that they have doubts when it comes to something that is not what they are used to,” explained Györgydeák.
Biometric system boots hooliganism out of soccer
