Are European Football Away Trips Becoming More Dangerous?

For football enthusiasts nationwide, the aspiration to support their team during European matches is a cherished dream, often envisioned alongside close friends and family.

However, these trips are not always filled with joy, pleasant weather, and music. In recent years, a series of alarming incidents have raised concerns about the safety of fans abroad.

The 2022 Champions League final was marred by what many described as a “near mass fatality disaster,” attributed to the inadequate organization by UEFA and French officials. Since then, supporters from Manchester City, Manchester United, and Newcastle have expressed their discontent regarding security measures at games held in Istanbul, Lyon, and Marseille.

Earlier this season, certain fans found themselves prohibited from attending specific away matches in the Champions League due to troubling security trends that many believe are deteriorating. This has led to situations that compromise their dignity and safety.

Common Safety Concerns

Fans have reported various issues, including:

• Excessively aggressive policing tactics
• Dangerous crowding due to mismanaged entry and exit protocols
• Insufficient access to restroom facilities
• Intrusive body searches
• Confiscation of personal items, such as power banks and medications

This raises a critical question: Are conditions at some of the most prestigious matches in football truly deteriorating?

A Matter of Life and Death

Ronan Evain, the executive director of Football Supporters Europe (FSE), noted, “There are certainly nations like Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands where conditions are worsening.” He further emphasized that some countries and clubs have repeatedly shown their inability to host matches under acceptable circumstances.

Evain pointed out that while countries like France, Spain, Portugal, and Italy are accustomed to welcoming tourists, they often treat football fans as if they are a threat or inferior citizens.

The security strategies for European matches are crafted through collaboration between host clubs, national governments, local authorities, and regional police, all with input from UEFA. However, the treatment of fans can vary greatly depending on the destination, the local policies, the conduct of home supporters, and the particular circumstances of the match.

“Minor humiliations occur frequently—like being forced to enter a stadium four hours before kickoff—being transported in a bus without restroom access, or having personal items confiscated,” Evain remarked.

“These measures are often unnecessary and appear to be either a means of social control or simply outdated. Furthermore, the practice of funneling thousands of fans through gates the size of an apartment door poses severe risks to safety. It only takes a moment of panic for a situation to escalate dangerously.”

Experiences of Fans Travelling Abroad

In an effort to understand the experiences of English clubs’ fans during recent Champions League and Europa League match weeks, BBC Sport reached out to seasoned travelers. They documented their journeys, highlighting the varying levels of security and policing at different locations.

Gemma Manns, a 44-year-old Chelsea supporter visiting Naples, Italy, shared, “We chose to arrive in Naples on the afternoon of the match due to the notorious hostility of Napoli fans. Hearing about the two young men who were stabbed was horrifying but not unexpected. Fortunately, we didn’t encounter trouble around the stadium upon our arrival, and the security checks were efficient. However, we were detained for over an hour after the match, with intimidating groups of ultras remaining in their stands, which put us on edge. Once we moved towards the designated buses, police presence vanished entirely, and we were crammed in without proper protection, which felt precarious.”

Jude Aston, a 21-year-old Aston Villa fan, recounted his experience in Istanbul, Turkey. “Despite warnings from Villa regarding the conditions, the reality was even worse than I anticipated. Disabled supporters, including myself, were confined in a cage near the away section, obstructing our view of the pitch. This cage was locked for most of the match, leaving me anxious about using the restroom until halftime. It felt claustrophobic and unsettling, especially since my assistant was kept outside the cage. Although the police and stewards were friendly, there must be better arrangements for disabled fans in 2026.”

Jane Boland, a 61-year-old Liverpool supporter in Marseille, France, described the difficulties faced while entering and exiting the stadium. “The riot police made the process quite strenuous. After being instructed to arrive at a meeting location over four hours before kickoff, we found ourselves waiting in overcrowded areas with limited restroom access. It took over two hours to leave the stadium after the final whistle, the longest I’ve ever experienced. I later learned someone had fainted and needed medical assistance, and I was surprised it wasn’t worse. For two days, interactions with rival fans were friendly, but we were suddenly treated like cattle, which was disheartening, especially after spending nearly £1000 on the trip.”

Sue Fox, a 68-year-old Spurs fan in Frankfurt, Germany, noted, “Transport was generally efficient, and the police provided clear instructions. However, we had to walk through a dark, muddy forest for about half an hour to reach the stadium. Upon arrival, we faced a long queue with locked gates, cramming fans together in uncomfortable conditions. Men could relieve themselves in the bushes, but women had no option for nearly two hours, and the only women’s restroom was located in the home end, which felt unsafe.”

Dylan White, a 21-year-old Arsenal fan attending a match in Milan, Italy, stated, “We were stuck in tight lines waiting for the designated metro, and the entry checks outside the stadium were extensive. This created further congestion, especially since the gates remained closed until just 20 minutes before kickoff. Once we finally entered, we navigated the spirals to our seats just in time for the match. We managed to exit the San Siro within about half an hour of the final whistle, which was a pleasant surprise, but we had to reclaim our confiscated portable chargers afterward. While police were friendly, the entry process could definitely be improved.”

Attacks on Dignity

The challenges faced by fans—including inadequate facilities for those with disabilities, restricted restroom access, and travel prohibitions—violate UEFA’s own regulations. Supporters with disabilities often endure particularly dire situations.

Owain Davies, the CEO of Level Playing Field, an organization advocating for sports fans with disabilities, expressed his outrage: “Seeing wheelchair users confined in cages is infuriating. This is not an isolated problem; we’ve heard of disabled fans being carried into stadiums or changing on floors soaked with urine. In our surveys, 79% of fans reported being forced to sit in home sections during European trips, exposing them to potential abuse. This is disheartening, especially for a major tournament overseen by UEFA. It constitutes an assault on dignity. UEFA published accessibility guidelines 16 months ago, and they have the power to enforce change, yet none has been seen.”

Travel Bans and Enforcement

In recent years, the trend of local police forces prohibiting away fans from attending matches has become increasingly prevalent, specifically in France, Italy, and the Netherlands. For instance, last autumn, Maccabi Tel-Aviv supporters were barred from attending their match against Aston Villa, a rare occurrence in England.

In situations where fans are allowed to travel, they may be restricted from entering the city center of the host location. This happened to Marseille fans in Bruges and Juventus fans in Nice during their recent trip to Monaco, with such announcements made only days prior to the matches.

Evain criticized this trend, saying, “Travel bans exemplify a country’s inability to organize a game appropriately. If that’s the case, the tournament organizers should respond by relocating the match or preventing the home club from participating.”

UEFA’s Response

Questions regarding the issues raised by fans were directed to UEFA, which stated, “In recent years, we have significantly enhanced our collaborations with key stakeholders responsible for safety and security in Europe. For the first time in ten years, we have observed a measurable decrease in the proportion of matches impacted by incidents, indicating progress. Since 2022, we have implemented more robust operational planning and increased safety personnel deployment at finals. Local authorities maintain their legal powers and final decision-making authority regarding safety and security measures for matches in their jurisdiction.”

On the topic of accessibility for disabled fans, UEFA noted, “We are wholly committed to ensuring an inclusive matchday experience for those with disabilities. While we acknowledge ongoing challenges and the need for improvements in certain areas, accessibility remains a cornerstone of our dedication to safe and welcoming football environments.” Regarding travel restrictions, they added, “While changes cannot happen overnight, all stakeholders have expressed a strong commitment to collaborating on sustainable solutions.”

Concerns Over Lack of Reform

Supporters frequently conveyed that organizational issues and authority-related problems arose more often than risks from rival fans. Why, then, is there a perceived decline in standards?

Evain explained, “The current political climate in Europe complicates police accountability. Many governments aim to project strength, and football fans become easy scapegoats. British clubs typically enjoy better conditions than their counterparts in other countries, thanks to competent UK police delegations accompanying fans and well-organized pre-match security arrangements.”

The final report investigating the 2022 debacle, commissioned by UEFA and compiled by independent experts, identified UEFA as primarily responsible and made numerous recommendations to enhance fan safety, advocating for UEFA to take greater responsibility as the event organizer.

Clifford Stott, a professor of social psychology at Keele University and one of the report’s authors, expressed his deep concern over the lack of substantial reforms, stating, “UEFA’s response to our findings has been limited to formal statements without meaningful follow-up or evidence of changes implemented. The safety and security of future events remain at risk.”

Illustration by Eleanor Shakespeare