Back Conversations with Sports Safety and Service Experts – Rodrigo Cavaleiro on coordinating safety, security and service effectively at sports events

Strasbourg 16 July
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Conversations with Sports Safety and Service Experts – Rodrigo Cavaleiro on coordinating safety, security and service effectively at sports events

 

In this sixth episode of Balance S4 mini-series on safety and service, we sepak to Rodrigo Cavaleiro, President of the National Authority for the Prevention and Fight Against Sport-Related Violence of Portugal (APCVD). The APCVD is responsible for preventing and ensuring compliance with the legal framework governing security measures and the fight against racism, xenophobia, and intolerance at sports events in Portugal.

On 4 June 2025 Rodrigo was elected as the new Chair of the Saint-Denis Committee.

In this interview, Rodrigo emphasizes the importance of achieving “the right balance between security, safety, and service at sports events to protect the lives and physical integrity of spectators and athletes”. These three pillars are central to the Saint-Denis Convention and are also at the core of the joint European Union - Council of Europe project “Balance S4: Strengthening the Safety and Service Pillars of the Saint-Denis Convention.”

As Rodrigo points out, “History has shown us that sometimes we focus too much on other aspects and not enough on safety.” By supporting both safety and service equally, the project Balance S4 represents a significant step forward in preventing adverse scenarios and strengthening the work of the Saint-Denis Committee. Through the analysis of the surveys and of the trainings of trainers sessions, the project Balance S4 will showcase best practices in managing sports events and enable national governments to share them.

A multi-agency approach is also essential in the development of successful sports events. Rodrigo shares an example from the UEFA Champions League final in Lisbon in 2014, highlighting the benefits of a collaborative environment. The success of the event was attributed to the concerted efforts of all stakeholders, bringing representatives of all three pillars to work effectively.

 Watch the full interview here.

More information:

 Discover the Saint-Denis Convention through an online course

 About ProS4+

Promoting and Strengthening the Council of Europe Standards on Safety, Security and Service at Football Matches and Other Sports Events

The ProS4+ project (1 July 2018 - 31 March 2021) aims to offer tailor-made responses to the emerging challenges and current trends in the fields of safety, security and service at football matches and other sports events. It promotes the standards set out by the new 2016 Council of Europe Saint-Denis Convention and its integrated approach to safety, security and service so that individuals and groups feel comfortable and appreciated when attending a football match or other sports event, inside or outside a sports ground.

The integrated approach of the Saint-Denis Convention reflects the need for government agencies, local authorities, clubs, police and supporters’ organisations to work together to ensure that sports events, especially football events, which gather great numbers of spectators, are safe and secure and that the events are welcoming for all.

The Council of Europe already developed a consolidated recommendation of the T-RV Standing Committee (Rec (2015)1) that provides guidance to the countries in revising their relevant policy to comply with good standards and practices. The ProS4+ project team develops online learning tools, carries out in-country trainings, conducts surveys and drafts action plans across Europe in order to achieve these objectives.

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New users for the ProS4+ online course 

30 April 2020, Strasbourg, France

The PROS4+ project online course on the Council of Europe Saint-Denis Convention on safety, security and service at sports events has welcomed many new users on its platform during the Covid-19 confinement period.
The number of users has tripled within one month, reaching 400 users and the interest continues to grow!

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