European Football: Security and Safety Issues and Concerns
By Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw
The popularity and success of European football competitions, such as the Champions and Europa Leagues, continues to raise security and safety issues and concerns in the football community.
These issues and concerns include inadequate facilities for fans with disabilities; restricted access to toilets; and travel bans.
According to Owain Davies, the chief executive of Level Playing Field, a campaigning group for sports fans with disabilities:
“We've had stories of disabled fans being carried into stadiums, or changing on urine-soaked floors. In one of our surveys, 79% of fans said they had been made to sit in home sections on European trips, potentially opening them up to abuse.”
And Davies added:
"UEFA published its accessibility guidelines 16 months ago - it is well within their gift to make clubs change things. What is missing is them enforcing it."
As regards travel bans, earlier this season, Frankfurt fans were banned from travelling to their away match with Napoli.
Furthermore, in some cases, where fans are, in fact, allowed to travel, they are banned from visiting the centres of host cities. For example, earlier this week, Marseille fans in Bruges and Juventus fans in Nice for their visit to Monaco.
So, what is UEFA, the governing body of European football doing about these issues and concerns?
UEFA has made the following comments:
"We have, in recent years, considerably strengthened our partnerships with key European stakeholders responsible for safety and security.
For the first time in the past decade, UEFA has recorded a measurable decline in the proportion of matches affected by incidents, which is an encouraging indicator of progress.
We have implemented stronger integrated operational planning and increased safety and security deployment at finals.
The competent local authorities retain their legal powers and the final decision-making authority for safety and security measures at matches taking place on their territory."
And, on the issue of disability access:
"UEFA is fully committed to ensuring a barrier‑free and inclusive matchday experience for disabled supporters.
"While we recognise that challenges persist and that improvements are needed in some contexts, accessibility remains an integral part of our commitment to safe, inclusive and welcoming football environments."
As regards travel bans, UEFA stated:
"Although things cannot change overnight, all stakeholders have expressed a strong commitment to close cooperation in the search for sustainable solutions."
Despite these remarks by UEFA, supporters’ groups and other stakeholders are looking for more tangible results, contending that the safety and security of future events continue to be at risk.
Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw may be contacted by e-mail at ‘
