UEFA EURO 2020 will, for the first time, take place in 11 host cities spread across the whole continent. The ‘UEFA RESPECT Fan Culture – Fans’ Embassies at UEFA EURO 2020′ project aims to engage Fans’ Embassies from every participating nation to ensure that all travelling fans have access to key information and support.
RESPECT Fan Culture aims to establish Fans’ Embassies run by fans, for fans, providing open meeting, exchange, and service points for fans and other tournament visitors. In each host city, Football Supporters Europe (FSE) will meet with key stakeholders and representatives from local organising committees to determine the best approach for each setting.
Previous tournaments have proven that when fans are included in security meetings, or simply consulted, no major incidents occur. Conversely, when fans are ignored or actively excluded, tensions and problems are more likely to arise. As a result, it is key for the organising committee in each city to work with and talk to representatives of Fans’ Embassies.
This is especially important during the pandemic, a point made by the Council of Europe T-RV Committee and T-S4 Committee in late-2020:
“Supporters and supporter organisations should be further involved in all the stages of the decision-making process of public health and security authorities and football bodies, namely as regards the restrictions put in place to preserve health and security during the crisis and on the return to ‘new normal’. The engagement of supporters in all stages of the organisation of a sporting event increases the legitimacy of the restrictive measures and their understanding, therefore reinforcing the confidence of supporters and their consented compliance of rules.”
