In the tenth episode of the Balance S4 Mini-series on safety and service at sports events, we speak with an advocate of women’s safety at sports events, Anoush Morel. For her, safety is crucial. She highlights the importance of the Council of Europe and the European Union joint project Balance S4 in strengthening the safety and service pillars of the Saint-Denis Convention on an Integrated Safety, Security and Service Approach at Football Matches and Other Sports Events.
Five main ideas are central to Anoush’s vision: Inclusivity must be seen as part of safety standards. A more harmonised approach across Europe is also essential, ensuring consistency for all fans. She emphasises the importance of deepening the collaboration between key stakeholders, particularly sports clubs and their staff, as their role is vital in creating safe and welcoming venues.
As Anoush highlights, safety and security staff are approachable and willing to be consulted. They are committed to doing their job well and are not just there to intimidate. In fact, they are the first responders when incidents occur and play a necessary role in making all fans feel safe.
Equally important is the respectful treatment of fans, making sure that specific safety procedures - such as body searches - are carried out appropriately. Searches at stadium entrances, namely in in Italy, Spain, France, and Portugal are still intrusive. Therefore, it is important to work with the relevant authorities and find solutions for body searches to be “less invasive and more respectful of fans, since everyone is there simply to enjoy the game”.
Ultimately, all these efforts converge to a shared goal: building welcoming and enjoyable venues where fans can come together to celebrate the sports they love.
Anoush Morel is the President of Her Game Too France, an organisation combatting sexist and sexual violence at stadiums. She partners with several professional clubs (Toulouse FC, LOSC Lille, AJ Auxerre, AS Saint-Étienne, among others) to promote initiatives such as providing a QR code for female supporters to anonymously report sexist behaviour or incidents and runs communication campaigns fostering dialogue (with players, stewards, security staff, and supporter groups), and understanding about how sexism negatively impacts the fan experience and stadium culture.
Watch the full interview here
More information:
Awareness-Raising Workshop on Safety at Sports Events
Discover the Saint-Denis Convention through an online course
