Supporter Liaison Officer Project

SLO Newsletter welcome Welcome to the seventh edition of the UEFA Supporter Liaison Newsletter. This issue includes reports on recent SLO developments that will hopefully give you ideas for your day-to-day work. We would appreciate it if you could share this information with your clubs and SLOs. Also, please don't forget to send us your SLO news for inclusion in a future Newsletter. Effective sharing of good practice can only serve to improve training and development. We look forward to hearing from you! We would also like to wish a very warm welcome to five new national association SLO coordinators – Alexey Tarasenko of the Russian Football Union, Gavin Powell of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, Klavs Jurciks of the Latvian Football Federation, Vugar Rustamli of the Association of Football Associations of Azerbaijan and Tróndur Vatnhamar of the Faroe Islands Football Association – and welcome back Bugra Imamogullari of the Turkish Football Federation, who has been away doing his military service. Sefton and Stuart (UEFA SLO project manager and project consultant) ____________ Association news Cyprus FA host landmark SLO meeting The Cyprus Football Association (CFA) broke new ground back in October with the organisation of the first ever SLO event linked to a European club fixture. The idea was to take advantage of the presence of the visiting club's SLO to stage an informal get-together with SLOs from the host team's country. In this case the fixture involved was the Europa League matchup between APOEL FC and Eintracht Frankfurt. The gathering took place immediately after the match organisational meeting and was attended by SLOs from APOEL, AEL Limassol, Anorthosis Famagusta and Omonia Nicosia. Phivos Constantinides, CFA SLO coordinator, began the meeting with a presentation on the philosophy and duties of an SLO, the requirements and the regulations. There then followed a Q&A session with Marc Francis, lead SLO at Eintracht Frankfurt, which lasted more than 90 minutes. As Phivos explained: "All the SLOs were very happy at the end of the discussion. They had the opportunity to ask all sorts of questions, and I believe that this was the best course on SLO duties that anybody can have. Marc is an extremely experienced SLO. Eintracht have five SLOs altogether and have had this position within their structure for 20 years. Once our SLOs realised the depth of Marc’s involvement with fans, his background and the way he handles things with the club, they raised issues relating to real cases and discussed problems they are facing almost every day. This discussion continued over lunch, so this interaction with Marc goes down as a very successful meeting." A second such workshop with Marc was organised by the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) at the Europa League match between FC Porto and Eintracht Frankfurt last week. A report will follow in the next edition of this Newsletter. This comes after a meeting at the Standard Liege v IF Elfsborg fixture in December, when Elfsborg SLO Erik Sjölin met with representatives of the Royal Belgian Football Association (KBVB) and the Belgian Pro League. Anyone wishing to stage a similar event around a Champions League or Europa League fixture is welcome to contact Stuart to establish contact with the visiting SLO.

UEFA SLO Newsletter Issue 7: February 2014

Supporter Liaison Officer Project

Inaugural SLO report released in Poland Polish fans travel two-and-half-times the circumference of the world to watch their team's league games. Most groups (69.12%) hire coaches, with football specials accounting for just 16.18% of all away trips. Contrary to all fears, only one in ten games see the use of pyrotechnics. These and other statistics are available to the Polish Football Association (PZPN) thanks to the inaugural SLO Report. "In autumn 2013 SLOs in the top two divisions started producing brief reports after every game, which taken together now deliver important insights into the matchday experience from the fan's point of view," said Dariusz Lapinski, SLO coordinator at the PZPN. "We know which grounds supporters consider fan-friendly, how long it takes away fans to access the stadium and how many disabled fans go to league games. On the basis of these findings we have prepared individual dossiers for each club to allow us to start improving the service in spring 2014." The SLO report will also serve as a basis for action at national association level this year. "We know from the report that supporter groups travel at an average speed of 62 km/h," said Lapinski. "The fastest, most comfortable and safest means of transport seems to be the football special. We will therefore seek talks with the Polish railway company to make it easier for organised supporter groups to charter such trains. Also, at the most recent SLO workshop on 18 December we decided to support the process of self-organisation of disabled fans wherever there is a realistic prospect of an independent association being formed. I hope that there will already be enough local organisations within 2-3 years that we can start thinking about a national umbrella organisation for disabled fans." To find out more about the SLO report, please contact Dariusz at [email protected]. Next round of Swiss SLOs receive training certificate SLOs and security officers from leading Swiss football clubs recently received qualification certificates from Swiss Olympic after completing a one-year training course (see Issues 1 and 6). Twenty-seven security officers and 13 SLOs received training, following on from a combined total of 21 last year. As things stand, 26 clubs from the two highest leagues in football and ice hockey now have accredited security and supporter liaison officers. Under Swiss Football League regulations, SLOs and security officers from each club must attend in order for that club to receive a licence to compete. Though attendance is not mandatory in ice hockey, the course was still widely taken up by clubs. This year's course (the second of its kind to take place in Switzerland) covered a range of topics, including working with police and security personnel, de-escalating communication skills, promoting dialogue during conflict situations, and supporting away fans. SLOs were required to attend for a total of eight days over the course’s one-year duration, which also included an exchange programme and dissertation assignment. A third course with a slightly amended concept based on the findings of the previous two is set to be launched in summer 2014. "The important thing about this course is that it brings together different stakeholders," said Judith Conrad, Head of Ethics and Training at Swiss Olympic. "Those responsible for fans and security get to know each other better and learn to work together on strategies designed to ensure matches pass off without incident." Further information can be obtained from the SFL's SLO Coordinator, Jörg Häfeli, who can be contacted at [email protected].

UEFA SLO Newsletter Issue 7: February 2014

Supporter Liaison Officer Project

National team SLO leads the way in Iceland For many years, the atmosphere at Iceland international matches played at the Laugardalsvöllur Stadium was not exactly vibrant. Various reasons were offered to explain this situation, but it was not until the Football Association of Iceland (KSI) appointed its first SLO for national teams in summer 2012 that all this changed. Now the stadium is awash with noise whenever the national team play. The new SLO is Styrmir Gíslason, a leading figure in the Tólfan supporter group, which loosely translates as 'The No. 12'. Tólfan are a group of true fans who try to create an atmosphere inside the stadium. Following Styrmir's appointment as SLO, the fans had a voice to speak for them and express their views towards the KSI. A dialogue between the supporters and the KSI ensued. What do the fans want, what do they need, how do they feel? Many things were discussed and a lot of ground was won. One example of the joint decisions resulting from the dialogue channelled via the SLO is a designated area for die-hard fans at the national stadium. People now come to watch Iceland not simply because the team is doing well but also because of the atmosphere. The hard work Styrmir has put in has been a key factor in this transformation. Tólfan are better organised and fans now have an open and relaxed dialogue with the KSI. A relationship has been forged and is still being strengthened. In November 2013, just ahead of the World Cup play-offs between Iceland and Croatia, KSI president Geir Thorsteinsson paid homage in an article on the official KSI website. "The importance of powerful and lively supporters at football matches will probably never be fully appreciated. Tólfan are at the forefront of the wave of fans supporting the Iceland team. Their contribution to the recent success of our national team in the World Cup qualifying campaign can be measured in many ways, but in my mind it has simply been priceless. The KSI plays its part and the cooperation with Tólfan has been excellent. Any fan or group of supporters can contact the KSI through a specific channel, i.e. an SLO, who was appointed last year. The SLO is the line of communication from Tólfan and any other group of supporters and their voice to and within the KSI." The KSI are committed to the cause. The SLO is here to stay. Austrian Bundesliga strengthen communications in supporter and security area Improved communications between those working in the area of fans and security is a key factor not only for safety at football but also a vibrant atmosphere in the stands. In this connection the Austrian Bundesliga, in cooperation with the Austrian Football Association and the Federal Ministry for the Interior (BMI) are continuously adding pieces to the puzzle that is security in football. "The work consists of small steps that are very difficult to measure. The Bundesliga workshop for security officers and SLOs is one such step and is designed to equip them with the knowledge they need to communicate with fans in an even more professional way," said Bundesliga board member Christian Ebenbauer. This year's workshop included presentations from experts on the following topics:      

Matchday planning from the viewpoint of a match commander at the Vienna police department Expert report from a pyrotechnics specialist at the BMI Development and fundamentals of supporter culture The day-to-day work of the full-time SLO at VfL Bochum (German Division 2) Future challenges with regard to homophobia in the stands Academic research into the correlation between fan behaviour and stadium infrastructure

UEFA SLO Newsletter Issue 7: February 2014

Supporter Liaison Officer Project

Germany: Regional events deliver new approaches to managing matchday travel Federal and state police representatives, SLOs from clubs in the top three divisions, fan projects, event managers, security officers, independent fan representatives, employees of Deutsche Bahn and other transport companies, plus officials from the German Football League (DFL) and the German Football Association (DFB) recently met in Dresden, Mönchengladbach, Stuttgart and Hamburg (St. Pauli) to engage in two days of dialogue aimed at further improving matchday travel arrangements. Some 600 participants attended the four regional conferences. Divided into working groups of between 15 to 20 people representing all of the aforementioned network partners, the attendees looked at eight different aspects of managing matchday travel. The objective was not simply to discuss the various issues but to come up with ideas, visions and specific proposals for projects that will qualify for funding from the two governing bodies. DFL general manager Andreas Rettig said it was important that the results of the regional conferences did not remain without consequence: "We will now assess which of the many good ideas and project visions can be implemented." The DFL has been organising the regional conferences since 2011 (since 2013 in association with the DFB). Representatives from all four regions are set to come together for a national conference set to take place midway through 2015. Organised an SLO workshop? Tell us about it! If you have organised an SLO event recently, please tell us about it so that we can share the details with your fellow SLO coordinators. The experience of national associations who are making good progress with the project can be immensely useful to those who are still at the beginning of the process or to SLO coordinators who are new to the role. We are also keen to hear about the training you are offering your club SLOs to allow us to gather and share examples of good practice. So please take the time to send us a brief report on your training activities. It would be much appreciated! ____________ Association roundup In Germany, clubs have voted to introduce a second mandatory full-time SLO in the top flight under new licensing regulations. Fourteen of the 18 Bundesliga clubs already had at least two full-time SLOs at the time the vote was taken, so the change fully reflects current practice in that league. The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has become the latest football body to decide to launch an SLO reporting system. SLOs will soon be required to submit matchday feedback after home and away matches and a monthly report on how the relationship between fans and clubs is progressing. Also in the pipeline is the requirement for clubs to submit a general supporter-relations plan outlining a programme for fostering fan culture and proposing new projects involving fans, etc. The reporting system will be launched at a meeting with SLOs in due course. In December the Georgian Football Federation launched an online survey of fans across Georgia. Supporters were invited to complete the 45-question survey via the internet (e.g. GFF website) and social media (e.g. Facebook). The survey was based on the 2012 Supporters Direct Europe European Fans’ Survey – Interim Report 1: Ireland and included several issues of key importance for Georgian football. Some 1,100 fans took part in the survey. The information is now being evaluated and will be published in the near future.

UEFA SLO Newsletter Issue 7: February 2014

Supporter Liaison Officer Project

The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has produced a Spanish translation of the UEFA SLO Handbook, taking the number of different language versions now to 12 (Bulgarian, Catalan, English, French, German, Hebrew, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Slovak, Spanish, Turkish). The RFEF is now working on its own version of the handbook tailored to the Spanish situation, a route that has also been taken by the Danish Football Association (DBU). Over in Sweden the Swedish Football League (SEF) has set up an SLO steering committee made up of the SLOs from Djurgardens IF, IF Elfsborg, GAIS, IFK Gothenburg, Helsingborgs IF, Malmö FF and AIK Solna. The steering committee advises the SEF on all matters relating to supporter liaison and serves as a spokesbody for Swedish SLOs. A recent SLO workshop in Denmark included a presentation by Eric Sjölin, SLO at Swedish first division club IF Elfsborg, as well as input from home SLOs and the Danish police. Kaspar Kragh, SLO coordinator at the Danish Football League, said: "The workshop went really well. Eric's presentation was very good and we are considering inviting him again to speak to our club CEOs. His input on the financial benefits to clubs of hiring an SLO was most interesting. And it was quite easy for people to relate to because Sweden, in general, is very similar to Denmark." Finally, recent visits by UEFA/Supporters Direct to Greece and Ukraine resulted in the mapping out of SLO implementation strategies tailored to the needs of the host national associations. Further strategy visits to other national associations are scheduled to take place over the next few months. ____________ General supporter liaison news Cooperation with Council of Europe Sport Conventions Division agreed Following a visit to Strasbourg in December an agreement has been reached with the Council of Europe Sport Conventions Division to cooperate in the area of SLO training, education and evaluation. In late April an SLO progress report will be given to the Standing Committee in charge of monitoring the application of the European Convention on Spectator Violence and Misbehaviour at Sports Events. Consideration will also be given to involving Council of Europe experts in future SLO training events. Oberhausen fans elect new SLOs Fourth-tier German club Rot-Weiss Oberhausen adopted a novel approach to appointing an SLO recently when they staged an election for the volunteer post. The vote took place at the home game against SC Verl in early February. There were four candidates for the post, all of whom had met interested fans on the Friday before the game. A total of 647 votes were cast. After polling around 35% of the vote each, Anke Gryszka and Uli Penzlak decided to do the job together. As it is a timeconsuming role, they can share the workload and thus ensure there is a point of contact for fans at all home and away matches. The two new SLOs will serve for 18 months initially. Supporters Charter handbook launched A lack of space in the last Newsletter prevented us from reporting on the launch of the new European Supporters Charter Handbook as part of a multi-agency initiative led by Football Supporters Europe (FSE). The new handbook is the result of a consultation process involving governing bodies such as UEFA and the European Professional Football Leagues (EPFL), national associations and leagues, the world players' union, FIFPro, and supporter representatives from across Europe. UEFA SLO Newsletter Issue 7: February 2014

Supporter Liaison Officer Project

A supporters charter is a joint agreement between clubs/FAs and fans setting out each party's rights and obligations as mutually agreed in an open negotiation process. It can serve as a key tool for establishing a meaningful dialogue with the overall objective of improving club-supporter relations and minimising anti-social behaviour. The handbook, which is available in five languages, is a practical guide for clubs and associations and supporters seeking information on how to develop a supporters charter, providing a wealth of useful tips and troubleshooting advice. William Gaillard, Advisor to UEFA President Michel Platini, said: "It´s something that all clubs and supporters should at one point endeavour to accomplish. The document that results from the dialogue can vary tremendously and the handbook says just that. It's for the parties at local level to decide how they want to define their relationship." Jo Vanhecke, Chairman of the Standing Committee on the Convention on Spectator Violence at the Council of Europe (T-RV), said: "A supporters charter is part of a dynamic process of dialogue between fans and clubs. It has proven to be of added value. Any kind of dialogue between fans and the other partners involved can contribute to creating a positive atmosphere in and around the stadium." ____________ Supporter events In January the Danish Football Supporters Clubs network (DFF) held its annual supporter seminar, which included a workshop on the SLO project. Attendees heard presentations from Chris Roliggaard (SLO at AGF Aarhus) and Kasper Kragh, SLO coordinator at the Danish Football League, who said: "It was a good seminar and it is always good to hear the supporters' point of view on these matters." More joint events are in the pipeline this year. ____________ Announcements New SLO survey set to be distributed As announced at the UEFA Club Licensing Workshop in Portugal last year, a decision has been taken to prepare a survey of the SLO work being done across Europe. The survey is designed to improve the service we are able to offer national governing bodies and to collect information on the training events held and good practice in the area of supporter liaison. It is essential that the UEFA administration and project coordinator have an understanding of how the SLO project is progressing in all 54 countries. On launch of the survey all SLO coordinators are kindly requested to complete it as soon as possible. SLO contact lists May we please remind all SLO coordinators once again to submit an up-to-date contact list of all your club SLOs, if you have not already done so, to the following email address: [email protected]. To make things easier, you will find an Excel template attached with this Newsletter that you can use to add the relevant information. Your cooperation would be greatly appreciated!

UEFA SLO Newsletter Issue 7: February 2014