Introduction
Following your club across Europe is a dream for many supporters – but it’s a dream that’s increasingly turning into a nightmare. In recent years, a series of alarming security incidents have raised urgent questions about the safety of travelling fans at elite European matches in both the Champions League and Europa League.
From the chaotic scenes at the 2022 Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid in Paris, which a French senate report described as a “near mass fatality catastrophe”, to stabbings of Chelsea fans in Naples and aggressive policing endured by Manchester City, Manchester United and Newcastle United in cities like Istanbul, Lyon and Marseille, the stories are mounting. So, is it really getting worse?
Repeat Offenders and Worsening Conditions
Ronan Evain, executive director of Football Supporters Europe (FSE), says there are clear patterns. “There are definitely countries where the situation is deteriorating, like Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands,” he told BBC Sport. “There are also repeat offenders – countries and clubs where things are not improving and they have demonstrated that they are not capable of hosting games in acceptable conditions.”
Evain points to major tourist destinations such as France, Spain, Portugal and Italy as places where football fans are treated “like a threat or second-tier citizen”. He added: “These things are rarely necessary, and are either a way for the police to exert a form of social control, or just completely outdated.”
Common complaints include:
- Overly aggressive policing
- Crushing due to poor stadium entry and exit management
- Lack of toilet access
- Invasive body searches
- Confiscation of items such as power banks and medications
Fans’ First-Hand Accounts
BBC Sport gathered testimony from experienced away travellers. Gemma Manns, 44, a Chelsea fan who attended a Champions League match against Napoli, described a tense atmosphere. “Hearing about the two young guys who were stabbed was horrible but not surprising,” she said. “We were kept behind for over an hour after the game, and big groups of ultras stayed in their stand to try to intimidate us.”
Stadium infrastructure often compounds the danger. Evain noted: “We see things like pushing thousands of fans through gates no bigger than an apartment door – there are clearly policing strategies and infrastructural failures that are putting people’s lives at risk. It just takes a few people to panic for things to go really wrong.”
Is There a Way Forward?
Uefa, clubs and local authorities all have a role to play. FSE’s surveys highlight that communication and proportionality are key. When police forces engage with supporter groups in advance, incidents drop sharply. But the trend of treating away fans as a security threat rather than paying customers persists.
Earlier this season, several sets of away fans were outright banned from Champions League matches due to “extremely worrying” security trends – a move that strips fans of their right to follow their team and does nothing to solve the underlying issues.
Key Takeaways
- Safety is deteriorating: Incidents of crushing, aggressive policing and violence are increasing in several European countries.
- Fan dignity is under attack: Travelling supporters routinely face humiliating treatment, from hours-long holds to having essential items confiscated.
- Repeat offenders: Certain nations and clubs consistently fail to meet basic safety standards, yet continue to host matches without meaningful reform.
- Bans punish the wrong people: Blanket restrictions on away fans avoid addressing the root causes and punish the innocent.
- Dialogue works: Where police and clubs engage with supporters, match-day experiences improve dramatically.
Quick Facts
Worst-rated countries for away fan treatment: Germany, Belgium, Netherlands (per FSE)
Common confiscated items: Power banks, medications, lip balm
Longest reported hold-back: Over one hour after the final whistle
Most dangerous infrastructural flaw: Narrow entry gates causing crushing
