In early September SD Europe attended the UEFA-EU Stadium and Security Conference in Munich at the invitation of UEFA. The event takes place at the start of each new club competition season and brings together national association security officers, stadium safety managers, club safety officers and police representatives from all European clubs that have qualified for the next season of the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League.
The UEFA/EU security conference offers supporter organisations such as SD Europe a great opportunity to meet and network with partners from national associations, clubs and other key stakeholders. This year the conference was attended by around 350 experts from across Europe.
UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin described the UEFA-EU security conference as “a unique forum in which all those working in the field of stadiums and security can meet to discuss, exchange ideas, make proposals and set the course for ongoing work in the future.
“Supporters are the lifeblood of football,” he continued. “Without them, the game would lose its atmosphere, its passion and its meaning.”
Stuart Dykes, Head of SLO Implementation at SD Europe, said: “The UEFA/EU security conference brings together key players from all the main stakeholders in one place and is a chance to catch up on the latest developments in stadium safety, security and service. It allows SD Europe to meet partners face to face and discuss issues relating to the implementation of the SLO personnel requirement under UEFA and national licensing regulations and plan strategy meetings, training workshops and bilateral SLO events with the national association SLO coordinators and clubs in attendance. It also gives us an opportunity to promote the Council of Europe Convention on an Integrated Approach to Safety, Security and Service at Football Matches and ensure supporters are fully involved in this process as stakeholders in their own right.”
Many interesting presentations and panel discussions on a variety of subjects ranging from the threat of terror attacks at football matches to UEFA’s new safety and security strategy were held over the two days. Guardian journalist David Conn kicked off the proceedings with an update on the Hillsborough justice campaign and liability-related issues. His report on the event can be found here.
Our partners CAFE also had the opportunity to address conference. Speaking in a panel discussion, CAFE managing director Joanna Deagle emphasised the importance of ensuring accessible football matches for all. For more information, please go here.
UEFA’s report on the event can be found here.