Stadium & security

UEFA works vigorously alongside national associations, clubs, local authorities and police forces to ensure that matches in Europe are hosted in a pleasant, safe, secure and service-oriented environment.

A stadium is for football what a theatre is for art. The UEFA stadium and security unit supports and stimulates the development of the full potential of stadia in order to celebrate the world's favourite sport. To all involved, stadia are not mere physical spaces but emotionally charged venues that provide the thrill of a perfect match experience.

UEFA sets and enforces high quality standards for stadium infrastructure and stadium management. In 2006 UEFA's stadium and security unit introduced:
• New UEFA safety and security regulations
• UEFA Stadium Infrastructure Regulations
A new version of the UEFA Stadium Infrastructure Regulations has been in force as of the 2010/11 season.

UEFA collaborates with the national associations to implement these regulations – stadium inspections are carried out annually to assess venues for UEFA matches and also, on request, as an advisory service for new stadium projects.

In addition, the unit carefully monitors safety and security planning for UEFA matches. Depending on the result of the match risk analysis, it appoints security officers to assist the match organisers.

Finals and final tournaments
Special attention is also given to the preparations for the UEFA club competition finals. UEFA's work with the local organising committee and international security authorities at the 2008 UEFA Champions League final in Moscow is captured in a multi-media guidance module titled UEFA Future Finals: Good Practices Stadium and Security.

At UEFA EURO 2004 in Portugal and UEFA EURO 2008 in Austria and Switzerland, a UEFA team of international experts in the field of safety, security and crowd management supervised match operations and assisted the relevant public authorities.

UEFA, together with experts from UEFA's stadium construction and management panel, has drawn up and is implementing a support programme for the development of the stadiums to be used for UEFA EURO 2012 in Poland and Ukraine.

Across Europe
Together with the European Union, UEFA is a partner in the pan-European safety and security working programme. This European initiative strengthens the collaborative effort required during international football matches. Through meetings and common projects with the EU football safety and security experts group and the EU police cooperation working party, UEFA's objective is ever-closer cooperation between UEFA, European governments and police forces.

Learning and sharing
To achieve a pan-European approach to stadium safety and security, UEFA promotes knowledge transfer and learning from experience and therefore organises safety, security, stadium design and management workshops.

For example, the unit launched a stadium and security education programme featuring five three-day workshops at UEFA's headquarters between November 2006 and February 2007. All member associations were invited to send two participants: a security officer and an infrastructure expert.

The unit continues to organise security and stadium design and management workshops and seminars. These serve to showcase good practices, exchange information, examine emerging trends and discuss lessons learned. Their objectives are to strengthen the partnerships involved in organising football matches, to share experiences and to enhance cooperation between the different parties involved.

• UEFA will continue to perform these and other important activities in the quest to establish a festive stadium atmosphere that satisfies all supporters, players and officials.
• UEFA's principal goal is to contribute to the development of modern venues that allow fans to experience football matches comfortably and safely.