Football Supporters Europe (FSE) More Dialogue, Fewer Problems

1. Football Supporters Europe (FSE)More Dialogue, Fewer Problems

2. Football Supporters Europe • = inclusive, independent, democraticallyorganisedrepresentativenetworkoffootballsupporters in Europe • Beginnings: European Football Fans‘ Congresses • in London/UK in 2008, in Hamburg/Germany 2009 • Independent Coordinating Office in Hamburg/Germany • Members in 35 countries representing more than 2 million football fans • Interlocuteur of UEFA, cooperation with Council of Europe, EU • Fosteringnetworkingamongstfans‘ groups in Europe • Grass-rootsorientedcampaigning on issues relevant tofootballfans • Lobbying forandrepresentationoffans‘ intereststowards relevant institutions • Provision ofadviceandsupportforfans‘ groups& institutions

3. Core Principles of FSE • An opposition to all forms of discrimination of any individuals on any grounds including: origin, ability, religion and belief, gender, sexual orientation and age • The rejection of violence, both verbal and physical • The empowerment of grass roots football fans • Fostering a positive fan and football culture including values such as fair play and good governance

4. Iceland Faroe Islands Finland Norway Sweden Estonia Russia Scotland Latvia Denmark Lithuania Northern Ireland England Belarus Republic of Ireland Netherlands Poland Wales Germany Belgium Czech Republic Ukraine Luxembourg Slovakia Kazakhstan Austria Liechtenstein France Moldova Hungary Switzerland Slovenia Romania Croatia San Marino Bosnia- Herzegovina Serbia Bulgaria Italy Andorra Montenegro Georgia F.Y.R. Macedonia Albania Portugal Armenia Azerbaijan Spain Greece Turkey Malta Cyprus Israel Football Supporters Europe Membership OverviewdatedOctober 2010 Nationally, locallyactivemembers & individual members Locallyactivemembers & individual members Individual membersonly

5. Levels andexistingstructuresofself-organisationamongstfootballfans in Europe • EUROPEAN LEVEL • Football Supporters Europe – formally organised, representative, • independent • SupportersDirect _Europe – informal on-topic consulting • informal, on-topic or gender-specific networks (F_in, QFF, Alerta etc) • NATIONAL LEVEL • Fan clubs of national teams – independent or interlinked with the FA • National fans‘ initiatives – representative, on-topic, informally and/or formally organised • CLUB LEVEL • Fans’ Departments as part of club structures – depending on existing ownership • structures • Official Fan Club Federations • Official Fan Clubs - one fan club per club or a variety of small fan clubs • Informally or formally organized, independent fans‘ groups

6. ViolenceAndDiscriminatoryBehaviour in Football • reflectsproblems in society • traces back to a dynamic, complex interaction of various • influences on individual, group and structurallevel

7. Requiredactorsin the context of measures countering spectatorviolenceanddiscriminatorybehaviour in football Everyone is responsible for the problems in and outside football stadia and should be committed to act:  Public Authorities (local, national and international)  Football Associations (national and international)  Football clubs (Club Management, Players)  Football Supporters and their representative organisations Principleofcomplementaryactions: Balance betweendifferentiated intervention and security strategies & conceptsofsocio-prevention

8. Background ofSocio-preventivemeasures in Football • differentiated understanding of spectator violence and discriminatory behaviour as part of a wider sociallydynamicphenomenon • considering spectator violence in the context of the specific conditions and actors in modern sports and the society • experiences of the established framework of complementing, integrative measures of prevention in football • the significance of the relationship between supporters and clubs as an important focus of preventivestrategies

9. The RelationshipbetweenFans and Football Governingbodies • Positive fan behaviour often crucially depends on how fans are/feel treated and perceived • Frustration about a lack of participation can increase the potential for misconduct (e.g. aggressive behaviour) • The commercialisation of modern sports and stadiums hold risk of/ leads to exclusion of genuine supporters and conflicts of interest and alientation between fans and clubs (e.g. by reducing standing areas, increasing ticket prices, exploitation of clubs against club’s traditions…) • Significant value of sports clubs as a social reference point • Immensely positive potential of the fans‘ affiliation with their club

10. "The supporters are the lifeblood of professional football – they are the identity of the clubs. Owners, coaches and players change but supporters always remain. We try to incorporate the views of the fans into what we do.“ – Michel Platini, March 2010 -

11. successful complementary measures/concepts of prevention & Dialogue • Background: contemporaryscientificfindings on violenceanddiscrimination in football in Europe • Fan-projects • Fan Liaison Officers • Fans‘ Embassies • Anti-racistcampaigningorganisations/initiatives • Community work via footballprojects • Fan Councilsatlocaland national level • Fans‘ involvement in decision-makingor in advisorycapacities • Supporters Charters • etc •  Fostering/using the positive potential of football and/or fan culture •  Establishing a dialoge between fans and all relevant parties •  Aiming at inclusion & involvement of football fans

12. Principles of a successful dialogue and Preventive Measures in Football • Any sustainable, successful dialogue and preventive measures should be based on • partnership / cooperation on equal footing • recognizing and supporting the independence and grassroots approach of fans’ self-organisation • on a commitment from both sides to proactively support essential principles like •  anti-discrimination, • the rejection of violence and • reliability on both sides with regards to abiding the agreements made, • etc.

13. Conclusions • There usually are significantly fewer problems and the club and stadium atmosphere is better and a lot more attractive everywhere, • where there is a decent level of self-organisation among football fans • AND •  where they are considered equal partners in a dialogue and are involved in decision-making processes by clubs and other football governing bodies and authorities

14. Conclusions • In the framework of successful prevention, it is important that supporters are not just seen as part of the existing problems but are considered a vital part of any “solution” and the culture of the game by all parties involved in football • A dialogue can only be successful if it is based on partnership and a mutual commitment to essential values • Self-organisation amongst fans and their dialogue with football governing bodies happens successfully in various ways and at all levels in many countries across Europe • Recognizing and supporting the independence and grassroots approach of fans’ structures from football governing bodies - where desired by fans - is important

15. Football Supporters Europe tel. +49 40 68 914 881 Coordinating Office fax. +49 40 386 99 868 P.O. Box 50 04 03 email: info@footballsupporterseurope.org 22767 Hamburg www.footballsupporterseurope.org Germany Thank you for listening!