KÜHEYLAN HUKUK
Travel Ban (Stadium and Passolig Ban): When Does It Start, How Long Does It Last, How Can It Be Removed? Protection and security measures, signature obligation, removal request and objection within the scope of Article 18 of Law No. 6222 have been updated as of 2026
A brawl before or after the match, a chant in the stands or a torch being brought into the stadium results in the Passolig card being closed without most fans even realizing it. Article 18 of Law No. 6222 stipulates that the measure of prohibition from travel will be implemented as soon as an investigation is initiated for crimes within the scope of this Law, without waiting for a court decision. If the case results in a verdict, the measure turns into a security measure and extends to three years in the second ban and five years in the third ban. The guide explains the beginning of the ban, the calculation of its duration, the obligation to apply to law enforcement on the match day, the penalty for violating the obligation and the path to be followed to lift the ban.
1. What is a Navigation Ban?
Banning from viewing is the prohibition of a person from entering competition, training and viewing areas in order to watch sports competitions and training. The law regulates this sanction in two different ways: a protective measure applied during the investigation and a security measure imposed together with a conviction or similar decision. The ban is not limited to football; It is valid for all sports competitions within the scope of the law and due to the electronic ticket system, it is felt in practice as the Passolig card being disabled for use.
Prohibition information is recorded in the electronic data bank within the General Directorate of Security. Sports clubs and federations can access this record; Before matches abroad, the competent authorities of the relevant country are also notified.
2. What Acts Lead to Prohibition?
The basis of the prohibition are the crimes defined in Law No. 6222 or referred to by this Law. The most common situations in practice are:
Intentional injury and damage to property in the field of sports (Art. 17); In these crimes, no complaint is required and the penalty is increased by half,
Bringing or using prohibited items such as torches, flares, cutting tools into the sports field (Article 13),
Entry without a ticket, entering with someone else's Passolig card or letting someone else use your card (Art. 15),
Crimes of intentional injury, insulting and threatening chants and damage to property committed by fan groups outside sports fields (Art. 18/2).
In addition, a person who is clearly under the influence of alcohol or drugs and insists on not leaving the area is banned for one year (Art. 18/7), and a person who makes a statement through the press or broadcast in a way that encourages violence in sports is banned from watching for one year (Art. 22/3) as an administrative measure.
In accordance with Article 18/3 of Law No. 6222, in case an investigation is initiated for these crimes, the measure of banning the suspect from traveling is immediately put into effect. Additionally, a judge's decision is not required. The Supreme Court also defines this measure as a specific and preventive protection measure implemented in accordance with the law upon initiation of the investigation (Supreme Court 19th CD, E.2017/5895, K.2018/4886, 24.04.2018).
The public prosecutor decides to lift the measure during the investigation phase, and the court decides to lift the measure during the prosecution phase,
Giving a verdict of acquittal or dismissal of the defendant.
It is not mandatory for the measure to last until the end of the investigation or prosecution. In the same decision, the Supreme Court stated that when evaluating the removal request, it should be taken into consideration whether the person is in danger of harming society by committing a crime again; Although no legal remedy is provided in the Law, it has been accepted that the general objection procedure in investigation and prosecution can be applied against the rejection of the request. For this reason, a removal request for people whose degree of involvement in the incident is low, who do not have a criminal record, or whose involvement in the incident is controversial is an opportunity that should be considered in the first weeks of the file.
4. Security Measure: How Long Will the Ban Last?
The duration of the ban varies depending on the outcome of the investigation or prosecution. When the first and sixth paragraphs of Article 18 of the Law are evaluated together, the table is as follows:
Conviction (imprisonment or judicial fine) 1 year from the completion of the execution of the sentence Execution begins once the verdict is finalized.
Decision that there is no need to impose a penalty 1 year The date the verdict becomes final
HAGB, postponement of prison sentence, alternative sanction 1 year Date the decision becomes final
Second time ban 3 years in the decision that there is no need for conviction and punishment Rules in the first two lines
Third time ban 5 years in the decision that there is no need for conviction and punishment Rules in the first two lines
The sentence envisaging three and five-year increases is included in the first paragraph of the article and is linked to the periods in this paragraph as of the text. The one-year period in cases of HAGB, postponement, postponement of the opening of a public lawsuit and prepayment is also regulated in the sixth paragraph. A common mistake in calculating the period is that in case of conviction, the one-year period starts from the date the decision becomes final. The Supreme Court overruled the provision established in this direction, stating that in accordance with the clear provision of the Law, the period should be calculated from the completion of the execution of the sentence, and that the deprivations of rights in Article 18/10 should be shown in the verdict (Supreme Court 7. CD, E.2022/17905, K.2023/2885, 28.03.2023). The ban given as a security measure is recorded in accordance with the provisions of the Judicial Records Law.
The person who is banned from watching as a security measure cannot be a manager in sports clubs, federations and fan associations during the ban; cannot serve as a referee, representative or observer in sports competitions (Art. 18/10). In case of a prison sentence of one year or more, the ban on serving in the management and control bodies of sports clubs and federations within the scope of Turkish Penal Code Article 53 is also applied (Article 17/A).
The banned person is obliged to apply to the general law enforcement unit closest to his location on the day of the matches of the team he is a supporter of, which is a party to the competition in which the act that constitutes the reason for the ban decision was committed, at the start of the match if he is in the country, and one hour after that (Art. 18/8). Biometric methods can also be used to facilitate tracking.
The person who violates this obligation is punished with a judicial fine of not less than twenty-five days for each competition (Art. 18/9). The Supreme Court accepts this crime as an abstract danger crime and interprets the excuse narrowly: unless there is an unforeseen and inevitable situation that develops beyond the will of the person, reasons such as working hours or not going to watch the match are not considered as excuses. Since the obligation arises directly from the Law, the fact that the measure has not been notified to the person with a signature does not constitute a defense on its own. On the other hand, if there is no investigation initiated and therefore no valid measure, there can be no signature obligation.
Entering the competition or viewing area by any means by a person prohibited from cruising requires a judicial fine of not less than two hundred days in accordance with Article 15 of the Law. The imprisonment sentence of up to one year for the person who lets in or ensures the admission of a prohibited person in violation of the rules is also increased by half. Using someone else's Passolig card constitutes a separate crime for both the card holder and the user.
6. How to Learn the Existence of the Ban and How to Remove It?
1. Detection: The ban is usually noticed when the Passolig card is disabled or ticket purchases are blocked. Exact information is obtained from the relevant law enforcement unit and the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office through the investigation records in the UYAP Citizen Portal.
2. Determination of the file: The number of the investigation underlying the ban, the crime charged and the phase of the file are determined.
3. Removal request: A reasoned petition is submitted to the public prosecutor's office during the investigation phase, and to the court during the prosecution phase. Concrete data about the role in the incident, video recordings, criminal record and whether the person poses a danger are added to the petition.
4. Objection to the rejection decision: In case the request is rejected, an objection can be made within the framework of the general provisions.
5. Processing of termination: After the KYOK, acquittal or removal decision, it is checked that the decision is processed into the electronic data bank through the law enforcement; The Passolig card is opened only after the registration is updated.
A fan was present in a fight with rival fans around the stadium after the away match, and was only seen walking within the group in the footage. An investigation was initiated against him for the crime of intentional injury within the scope of Law No. 6222, Article 17, and his Passolig card was closed. The fan did not sign an autograph at his team's next home game.
Since the protective measure comes into force as per the law as soon as the investigation begins, the measure itself is not against the law. However, the absence of any concrete footage showing that the fan participated in the act is a strong reason to request the public prosecutor's office to lift the measure. Violation of the signature obligation constitutes a separate crime and requires a judicial fine of at least twenty-five days for each match; Therefore, it is mandatory to comply with the obligation until the measure is lifted. If the investigation results in a decision not to prosecute, the measure is lifted immediately; If it results in the announcement of the verdict being postponed, the ban lasts for one more year after the decision becomes final.
Is a court decision required to ban sailing?
It is not required for protective measures at the investigation stage; It is implemented in accordance with the law once the investigation is initiated. Security measures are included in the court's decision.
Does the ban only apply to the matches of the team I support?
No. The ban covers all sports competitions and training. It is the obligation to apply to law enforcement on match day, which is limited to the team you support.
I got banned for the first time, what happens the second time?
If the ban is given together with a decision that there is no need for conviction or punishment, the one-year period is applied as three years in the second ban and five years in the third. Therefore, correct management of the result of the first file is also important for subsequent possibilities.
Can a ban be given for social media sharing?
Posts containing threats or insults may constitute a crime under Article 14/4; Statements that encourage violence in sports require an administrative fine and a one-year administrative ban in accordance with Article 22. The Constitutional Court ruled that freedom of expression was violated in an administrative fine imposed without justification as an incitement to violence (İlyas Bulcay, App. No: 2020/24527, 09.02.2023).
Will my Passolig card be opened automatically when the ban ends?
The information that the ban has ended must be recorded in the electronic data bank. If the record is not updated, correction should be requested through the law enforcement or the relevant chief public prosecutor's office.
Waiting for the protection measure to be lifted on its own and not requesting removal.
Ignoring the obligation to apply to law enforcement on match day; Each violation gives rise to a separate criminal case.
Trying to enter the stadium with someone else's Passolig card when it is prohibited.
Not checking the date from which the ban period begins in case of conviction.
Accepting the down payment offer without knowing that the ban will last another year.
Banning from traveling is a sanction that is applied without waiting for the outcome of the criminal case and can last for years after the case is closed. Secondary crimes, such as violation of signature obligation, can turn a single incident into more than one criminal file. Correct management of the measure from day one directly affects both the duration of the ban and the risk of worsening bans in the future.
Küheylan Law Firm provides legal support to fans and club managers in the processes of conducting defense in investigations and prosecutions within the scope of Law No. 6222, requests for the lifting of the prohibition measure, files related to signature obligation and correction of electronic records.
Important Legal Notice: The legal explanations contained in this guide have been prepared by Küheylan Law Firm for general information purposes and do not constitute legal advice. In sports law, federation instructions change frequently, objection and application periods are short; Since each file has its own unique conditions, it is recommended to get support from a lawyer before taking action. © 2026 Küheylan Law Firm. All rights reserved.
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