Football fans launch first-ever independent, democratic and representative European Fans organisation

Written by Smithy on July 22nd, 2009

In Hamburg over the weekend of July 20th and 21st, representatives of football supporters from across Europe met at the Second European Football Fans’ Congress to launch for the first time a legally-constituted, Europe-wide, independent, democratic and representative football fans organisation.

Football Supporters Europe (FSE) has been established to provide a representative collective voice for football fans and their organisations towards football and governmental authorities at European level. The conference, attended by more than 350 representatives from 29 countries representing some two million football fans, agreed on statutes and structures for the new organisation, and elected eight of their number to serve on FSE’s executive board.

The elected members are: Kevin Miles and Dave Boyle from England, Emilio Abejón from Spain, Christina Magnussen from Norway, Michal Riecansky from Slovakia, Shay Golub from Israel, the Belgian Dirk Vos and Tam Ferry from Scotland, all of whom are representatives of national fans’ organizations back in their home countries.

It was also announced at the Congress that the FSE is to organise and coordinate, through its Fans’ Embassy Department, a three-year project, “Fans’ Embassies Go East”, to develop the fans’ embassy network with a particular focus on Eastern Europe and Euro2012 in Poland and Ukraine. The project has been generously supported by UEFA, whose Executive Committee has decided to grant the project an overall budget of €500,000.

The event was organized in cooperation with the HSV Supporters Club, several fans’ groups of FC St.Pauli and together with both fans’ projects and the clubs themselves. Several workshops took place on topics such as “Kick-off times”, “Policing in football”, “Club licensing” or “Involvement of minority groups in football fan culture”, the results of which will be further elaborated and used as a basis for campaigning by working groups after the congress. 

The European Fans’ Congress was also supported by UEFA, whilst the European football association fully acknowledges the independence of the network. William Gaillard, personal advisor to UEFA president Michel Platini, gave the keynote speech. Participation in the congress was free of charge, the congress had been sold out for weeks. 

Further info
Football Supporters Europe (FSE) is an independent, representative network of football fans with its Coordinating Office located in Hamburg/Germany.

Fans‘ Embassies are specific info and support services, organized for fans and often also by fans at international football matches. They are aiming at ensuring a welcoming atmosphere, in particular for visiting supporters, by providing specific information and guidance relevant to fans. Experiences from previous tournaments, like Euro 2004, World Cup 2006 and UEFA Euro 2008 show that Fans’ Embassies are thereby making a significant overall contribution to the prevention of problems and tensions and can play an important role for the successful course of these major football events.

Press Contact:
Football Supporters Europe, Coordinating Office, P.O. Box 500403, 22704 Hamburg
Tel. +49 40 64 88 90 86

No related posts.

Posted in: Tartan Army - General