In this fourth episode of the Balance S4 mini-series on safety and service at sports events we talk to Stuart Dykes, Director of European and Institutional Affairs, Football Supporters Europe (FSE). Stuart emphasises the vital importance of fans’ safety and advocates for its integration with quality service at sports events to effectively “get the security pillar right”.
This approach is at the heart of the Council of Europe Saint-Denis Convention, and is further reinforced through the joint European Union - Council of Europe project "Balance S4: Strengthening the Safety and Service pillars of the Saint-Denis Convention”.
Stuart highlights the need to improve the treatment of fans at certain football matches. While acknowledging the persistence of negative behaviours, he argues that fostering a more respectful and welcoming environment can help prevent such incidents and enhance the overall fan experience.
A notable example cited by Stuart is the implementation of "fan walks" during UEFA EURO 2024 in Germany. These organised walks allowed supporters to “gather and congregate in a large number and walk together to the stadium”, resulting in minimal incidents. A key factor in this success was the proactive engagement of police officers communicating with fans in their native languages.
Stuart points out that more efforts are needed, particularly to improve the match-day experience for "away fans," who often encounter stricter travel restrictions and limited access to concessions compared to "home supporters".
Let’s continue working together to uphold fan rights and deliver better service at sports events!
Watch the full interview here.
The Balance S4 joint project will organise a workshop with fans during the Football Supporters Europe Congress EFFC 2025 on Saturday 28 June at Eleda Stadion in Malmö, Sweden. An overview of the key findings and best practices from research on safety and service arrangements across Europe will be presented, delve into fan experiences and expectations, and share insights from the Training of Trainers sessions – useful for delivering trainings to fans.
More information:
Discover the Saint-Denis Convention through an online course
