Champions League Final
Fan representatives after the final chaos: drawn the right conclusions
At the premier class final on May 28, 2022, the Stade de France in Saint-Denis was turbulent. photo
© Christophe Ena/AP/dpa
In order to prevent spectator chaos like 2022, UEFA made some changes before the premier class final. A fan representative sees the development as positive. Another trend has followers.
The chaos should not be repeated under any circumstances. At the most important game of the year, of all things, disturbing images of tear gas and densely packed crowds cast a large shadow over the glossy Champions League product.
Before this year’s final between Manchester City and Inter Milan on Saturday in Istanbul (9 p.m. / ZDF and DAZN), UEFA wants to have learned its lesson from the events of 2022, and is even praised for it by fans. The European Football Union has not yet solved another problem of this international season.
“We have been accompanying the finals for years and this is definitely the best year so far in terms of preparation and the exchange of information,” says Martin Endemann from the fan organization “Football Supporters Europe” of the German Press Agency. At the beginning of May, UEFA presented plans for organizational improvements around their finals. Among other things, she relies on a modified ticket system with exclusively digital tickets and announced that she would involve fans more. “I have the impression that UEFA drew the right conclusions from what happened last year,” said Endemann.
More than 230 injured in 2022
More than 230 people were injured at the time. Despite having tickets, many fans didn’t make it to the Stade de France in Saint-Denis. The encounter between Liverpool FC and Real Madrid (0-1) kicked off more than half an hour later than planned. According to an independent investigation, UEFA was primarily responsible for the crowd chaos.
It’s different with another controversial issue in international competitions. Not only fans of Eintracht Frankfurt were angry this season about a development that could change European football forever. Supporters of the Hessians were excluded from the round of 16 second leg of the Champions League at SSC Naples. FC Basel and Feyenoord Rotterdam fans were also not allowed to accompany their teams to international away games. Local authorities were responsible for this.
“We fear that this could set a precedent and that other police departments or interior ministries might also make use of this tool,” says Endemann. He speaks of a “worrying trend to make away trips more difficult in international competitions. That fills us with concern”.
UEFA doesn’t like fan bans
The UEFA officials don’t like the development either. For them, too, visiting fans are part of football. Before the Frankfurt guest appearance in Naples, UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin announced that he would not accept such fan exclusions in the future. “We have to say that if something like this happens, it won’t be played there. Very simple: we will change the rules,” Ceferin told ZDF. Ceferin spoke of an intolerable situation and said: “We urgently need to do something about it because the authorities’ decision is absolutely wrong.”
Of course, fans and their representatives like Martin Endemann welcome such statements. But Endemann also says: “He will have to be measured by these words in the future.” Concrete changes have not yet become known. The European Football Union did not comment on Ceferin’s statements and the status of developments when asked by dpa.
“Football Supporters Europe” is in talks with UEFA. “Obviously, UEFA has not yet had the right measures and regulations to regulate this,” says Endemann. “It’s definitely something that will continue to accompany us next year.”