From: Football Supporters Europe
Save Fan Culture!
FSE Stadium Action Days
29 April – 16 May 2011
Excessive and disproportionate use of force, unjust arrests, banned flags or
banners for no transparent reason, arbitrary stadium ban procedures and
worst of all, punishment of entire sets of fans for the wrongdoing of mostly
a tiny minority of individuals. Practically all fans have experienced one or
the other. Many experience it on a regular basis, some at every away match,
and others just at their home matches.
Due to numerous of these negative experiences, police is often perceived as
an “enemy” rather than a body which is there to protect us and ensure our
safety in football – which it is supposed to do. For many fans, all of this
is just another manifestation of the “modern game”. Repression and
collective stigmatisation of fans as a problem from the side of the police,
authorities and clubs is certainly part in many fans lives.
Life inside football grounds has changed. Increased commercialization in the
past years have lead to clubs and whole leagues being more and more
dependent on their various private sponsors – TV companies, financial
groups, rich investors etc. New laws and regulations have imposed stricter
and stricter forms of control or restrictions over fans all over Europe,
under the pretense of increasing stadium security or safety, or to fight
against “unwanted elements” – such as the use of pyrotechnics. In
consequence, the needs and wishes of the traditional, genuine fans have been
more and more collectively neglected.
Generally, all around Europe, new and stricter regulations are being
implemented or considered – new and improved camera systems or special ID
cards for fans, and many fans still have to face an everyday presence of
police officers inside their stands or untrained stewards without expertise
in de-escalation strategies. Encouraging self-policing by giving
responsibility back to the fans rather than treating them like passive
consumers is not considered an option. Collective punishment of whole sets
of innocent fans e.g. via matches behind closed doors - for the actions of a
tiny minority - are part of the official means of sanctioning as a rule,
thousands of fans are being given stadium bans every year, often without
evidence or as preventive measures, even against entire groups of
supporters.
Despite the situation we are facing, it is us the match-going, passionate,
football supporters from around Europe that ARE the “lifeblood” of football
and we should raise our voice. It is up to us to stand up wherever
necessary and refuse to be treated as second class citizens just because we
happen to go to a football game and fight the tightening grip of repressive
means of sanctioning. It is time for us to organize and work for a common
goal: to Save Our Fan Culture
We as active, match-going and passionate fans from all around Europe:
Call upon, clubs, leagues and football associations, to stop the
introduction of Fan ID Cards
Call upon responsible authorities to uphold valid laws and legislation
requiring all police officers to be recognized individually by clearly
visible ID numbers
Call upon responsible authorities to implement the introduction of trained
stewards instead of police officers inside stadia
Call for the introduction of transparent, permitting and proportional
regulations regarding the usage of fan items, such as: flags, banners and
tifo materials, inside stadia, developed in close consultation with football
supporters
Want to encourage self-policing amongst football fans and call upon UEFA,
national FA’s, clubs and authorities to take all necessary means to foster
such developments as well
We as football supporters want to enjoy matches and support our club in a
free, hospitable and passionate atmosphere. If we are listened to and
considered, we are part of the solution, not the problem! Let’s show them
how colourful the fan culture is that they risk to loose!
Create a tifo, display banners, distribute leaflets and info amongst fans
and involve your group, your stand, and your friends. Get active and join
the European Action Day “Save Fan Culture!”, by using the slogan on your
banners, leaflets and actions, during the days from 29th of April to the
16th of May 2011. Everone is welcome to join the campaign that can consent
and support the FSE core principles
It’s up to us to challenge police repression and stand up for
case-sensitive, fair and transparent treatment of football fans in Europe.
It is up to us to unite, show how many we are and make our points visible to
Save Fan Culture!
How can you participate?
It is not necessary to sign up for the campaign in order to participate,
because we want as many fans as possible to take part in the campaign that
can consent to our core principles!
However, the more support the campaign publicly, the more powerful it gets!
We would therefore appreciate it if groups of fans who wish to participate
would let us know about their commitment by sending an email containing:
The name of your club:
Your group name:
Contact information (email-address):
Link to website:
Please send this email to i...@footballsupporterseurope.org
Once your involvement in the campaign has been registered, we will put the
name of your fans’ group up on our list of participants!
Logos & Banners
If you want to participate in this campaign, you can find some banners and
logos ready for download to use for your website, fanzine or stadium display
via this link.
If you have any further questions , please let us know.
http://www.fanseurope.org/en/activities.html?start=2
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