On Thursday 13th February SD Europe’s Fans Matter! Project, which is supported by UEFA and the EU, was launched at an event in Brussels, Belgium.
The Fans Matter! project brings together national associations, national supporters organisations, fan-owned football clubs and continental supporters organisations. The project will see the partners participate in a series of exchanges, training events and meetings with the objectives of better equipping each organisation to operate within the complexities of the modern football landscape and to strengthen the relationships between supporters and those who run the game.
Project partners FIGC, Supporters in Campo, the Israel FA, Israfans, Sandlanders, FASFE, PAC Omonia 1948 and KSK Beveren were all in attendance in addition to representatives from UEFA, the European Commission and other key stakeholders. SD Europe has enlisted the services of experts from within the football and sports industry to deliver the sessions along with individuals from the organisation’s Advisory Board, who were also in attendance in Brussels. The launch event was the first time all project partners, trainers and key stakeholders were together in the same room.
Following the meeting, SD Europe CEO Antonia Hagemann said ‘it was fantastic to bring everyone involved in the project together for the very first time. There’s unquestionably a great deal of excitement and positivity for Fans Matter! amongst the partners, as far as we are concerned, they are all pioneers to be taking part in this project. This is the first project of its kind to bring together national associations, supporters organisations and member-run football clubs. We were also very pleased to have representatives from UEFA and the European Commision present, we are grateful for their support for the project’.
Patrick Gasser, Head of Football & Social Responsibility at UEFA said ‘the Fans Matter! project is following a constant progression of SD Europe’s work and its network. We very much welcome the fact that National Associations such as Italy and Israel joined the project’.
Yves Le Lostecque, Head of the Sport Unit at European Commission said ‘the Fans Matter! project is about promoting values shared by the European Commission: transparency, democracy and dialogue in sport. And it is above all about passion:, passion for sport, passion for football and passion for our club!’.
Project Partners RecapSupporters OrganisationsSupporters in Campo – ItalyIsrafans – IsraelFASFE – SpainNational AssociationsFIGC – ItalyIsrael FAContinental Supporters OrganisationsSandlanders – Africa SD EuropeFan-owned Football ClubsKSK Beveren – BelgiumPAC Omonia 1948 – Cyrpus