The police are to be given extra powers to tap football hooligans’ telephones in an effort to head off violent confrontations, justice minister Ernst Hirsch Ballin has told parliament.

Battles between groups of hooligans are often organised at the last minute and by listening in, police will be able to intervene in time, the minister said.
The Netherlands sanctioned nearly 12,500 telephone taps last year, making it the most tapped country in the world.