UEFA announce new security measures

[Dero]

UEFA have agreed to series of new security arrangements at European matches after several instances of crowd trouble involving English fans last season.

A review by the Home Office has been completed with UEFA agreeing to new measures, including an increase in the use of stewards rather than riot police.

It follows problems involving Manchester United fans in Lens and Rome, Tottenham supporters in Seville, Liverpool fans at the Champions League final in Athens as well as Rangers fans in Osasuna.

Experts from the UK and other European countries will now work with UEFA to:

# Ensure all European football stadia possess integrated crowd management and safety and security arrangements, in part to avoid over-reliance on the use of riot police.

# Provide comprehensive safety and security standards for international football events.

# Develop pan-European training for stadium safety officers, stewards and police.

Home Office minister Vernon Coaker, who announced the review of events last season, said: "I am delighted UEFA has agreed to work in partnership with safety and security experts from the UK and other European countries to help ensure football supporters can attend matches in Europe in a safe and secure environment.

"English fans have achieved a great deal since the dark days of mass hooliganism but they must build on their improved image and reputation by taking further responsibility. Supporters must play their part in reducing the risks."

UEFA president Michel Platini backed the move to cut the involvement of riot police.

He said: "Good stadium infrastructures, sophisticated safety and security measures, the de-escalation of the style of policing and better supporter behaviour are all part of a drive to make European football venues safer and more secure."

Sports minister Richard Caborn also welcomed the announcement.

Caborn said: "By working together hopefully scenes like those that were witnessed in Rome, Seville and Athens last season will become a thing of the past and be gone from football for good.

"Experience tells us from how we police football in this country and at last year's World Cup in Germany that if you treat people with respect they behave in the right way. Lessons from that can help drive up stadium safety on the continent."

[Gordy Boy]

At the risk of being berated on here, those measures actually look like the application of common sense from UEFA.

I realise it won't appease a great deal of people who had problems in Athens, but it is a start - I'm particularly keen to see a reduction in Riot police at some of the foreign grounds - it seems to cause more problems than it prevents.

Having Europe-wide standards to work to would hopefully show up the countries that aren't policing/stewarding/controlling crowds properly as well.

[Revo]

hahaha as if the nazi italian facists wouldent attack stewards. its uefa that needs a lesson in upgrading

[Tinkerbitch]

They couldn't think this up for themselves- frightening. Lets hope it's all in place before we have to meet the Moscow mafia

[reddragon]

Firstly, this should be on the LFC forum as it affects us directly.

I've only just noticed it so I I'll need to digest it to work out exactly what the mealymouthed ******s mean

[Dero]

well if the mods feel the same as you reddragon I won't mind if they move it

I thought about putting it in there but thought it was more general Europe wide news.

[Neil Young]

Firstly, this should be on the LFC forum as it affects us directly.

I've only just noticed it so I I'll need to digest it to work out exactly what the mealymouthed ******s mean

well if the mods feel the same as you reddragon I won't mind if they move it

I thought about putting it in there but thought it was more general Europe wide news.

dero, we can make our own decisions - we don't need the mods to run our lives for us.

[Parm]

about time to

[Neil Young]

Based on the the admittedly few details I've read of it, I think this is a positive move. It was hardly likely that UEFA were just going to turn round and say, "OK, hands up, we got it wrong in Athens" (even though they did) but at least recent events with fans of English clubs have led to an examination of what can be done better rather than simply attacking the supporters themselves.

I think the government may well deserve some credit for this - Gaillard's unjustified attack after Athens led to some high-level political reaction and that intervention may have directly led to what will hopefully be some improvements in future stewarding/policing.