FIFPRO Europe has urged the Council of Europe to consider the negative impacts of collective bans on away supporters and instead explore more sustainable solutions to counter crowd violence in football.
Recent incidents of crowd violence and pitch invasions have highlighted the risks faced by players. According to the FIFPRO Workplace Safety Report 2023, nearly 40 percent of players have been exposed to unsafe working conditions, including violence and abuse from fans.
FIFPRO Europe stresses that collective bans should be avoided wherever possible and that resources should be directed towards improving surveillance, reporting, and sanctioning mechanisms in football stadia.
"Football is a sport deeply rooted in the passion and energy of its supporters – players thrive on fan engagement, and away supporters bring a unique atmosphere to the game," said FIFPRO Europe General Secretary Joachim Walltin, who played professionally in Norway for 15 years.
"The absence of away fans not only diminishes the experience for players but also reduces the competitive spirit that defines football. Collective bans rob players of the essential emotional and psychological support they receive from their fan base, which can impact their on-field performance."
Drawing from key findings of the FIFPRO Workplace Safety Report, FIFPRO Europe is proposing an approach that strikes a balance between protecting players and preserving the integrity of football competitions, including:
1) Personalised Ticketing Systems
Implementing personalised ticketing that ties each ticket to a specific individual to enable authorities to track and monitor fans more effectively, ensuring that those responsible for violent or abusive behaviour can be held accountable without punishing the entire fanbase.
2) Camera and CCTV Surveillance
Equipping modern stadiums with high-quality CCTV systems that can provide clear evidence of misconduct and where the footage can be used to identify individuals who engage in harmful behaviour.
3) Use of New Technologies
Advancements in technology, such as facial recognition software and mobile reporting apps, offer new opportunities to enhance stadium security, which can assist in real-time identification of perpetrators and facilitate swift and accurate reporting to authorities.
"FIFPRO Europe believes that, wherever possible, sanctions should be imposed on individuals rather than groups. Individual bans, fines, and legal actions against offenders are more likely to deter future incidents than blanket bans, which often alienate well-behaved fans," said Walltin.
"It is essential that football authorities, law enforcement, and clubs collaborate to ensure that the full weight of the law is brought to bear on those responsible for violence or abuse. In cases where collective bans are unavoidable, they should be implemented as a last resort and only in the absence of viable alternatives that protect the safety of players and fans alike."
FIFPRO Workplace Safety Report
Released in January 2024, the FIFPRO Workplace Safety Report highlights the scale and impact of violence and abuse by fans towards professional footballers in the men’s game. The report draws on player interviews, a survey of 41 national player unions and media reviews.
The survey findings are supported by a Council of Europe committee state monitoring report published in November under the Saint-Denis Convention that says the number of arrests at sports events, and in particular football top tier leagues, "is considerable and can be considered a growing issue".
Workplace Safety Report: The impact of violence towards footballers in their workplace
The report features the insights of more than two-thirds of the global FIFPRO membership and builds on previous publications focusing on other safety concerns in the workplace as well as research in domestic playing markets by player unions.
The use of flares or missiles are of particular concern, but violent acts also include players being attacked by pitch invaders or victimised from the stands.
While 85 percent of player unions agree that "in most instances the relationship between fans and players is very positive and should be cherished", 76 percent said that workplace safety is a growing concern for professional footballers and 66 percent felt that in recent years parts of fan culture have "become increasingly more violent and abusive".
