Champions League fixtures: Fans facing 'worrying' trends in safety at matches

Football fan groups have informed the BBC about significant safety and security concerns at UEFA matches across Europe, describing them as "extremely worrying trends."

Specific incidents include the banning of away fans from traveling to upcoming Champions League fixtures, such as Napoli's home game against Eintracht Frankfurt and Ajax's match against Marseille, due to decisions by local authorities. Additionally, Liverpool supporters are required to take hours-long bus rides without access to toilet facilities for their game against Galatasaray in Istanbul, and face confiscation of items like phone power banks, medication, and women's hygiene products upon entry.

Ronan Evain, executive director of Football Supporters Europe, criticized public authorities for effectively giving up on their duties, stating that such bans are an easy but inadequate response to complex problems. He emphasized that UEFA rules mandate providing 5% of tickets to away fans, similar to other regulations like pitch size, and travel bans indicate a failure to host games properly. Evain also expressed disappointment over the lack of progress in countries like France and Italy.

The practice of banning away fans has become more common in recent years, particularly in France and Italy. In some cases, such as when Tottenham visited Rennes in 2021, away fans are prohibited from entering the host city center. Authorities justify these measures by citing risks to public order and safety; for instance, the Naples police chief mentioned "high risks" for the Frankfurt ban, while Marseille authorities cited security concerns for the Ajax match.

Liverpool's supporters' union, Spirit of Shankly, described the travel conditions in Istanbul as "indefensible." Despite multiple requests from the BBC, UEFA has not provided a response to these concerns.