In Europe, Increasing Fan Activism and Hooliganism Present Threats to Stadium and Public Order

Data published by the UK Home Office indicates that, over the past year, there has been a 14 percent increase in football-related arrests and a 34 percent increase in orders banning individuals from attending soccer events. According to French authorities there has been a 94 percent increase in arrests compared to the previous year. In Italy, on the other hand, 6,343 individuals were banned from attending sporting events during the 2022/2023 season – a considerable jump compared to the 1,741 such cases during the previous year’s season. Even in countries where fan violence is uncommon, isolated incidents can be significant. For example, in Germany, 205 individuals were arrested in a single evening in March 2024 as fans of Borussia Monchengladbach and Cologne clashed outside Gladbach’s stadium. 

Although typically less destructive than hooliganism, football fan activism has increasingly become a prominent feature in stadiums across Europe, reflecting broader socio-political issues and the desire for fans to assert their rights and influence within the sport. Protests denouncing club owners whom fans believe are mismanaging their teams are commonplace outside stadiums on match days. Stadium security personnel usually focus on keeping fan activism outside the venue; however, there are occasional banners with slogans criticizing the clubs or expressing political messaging displayed within the stadium itself. The most significant concern for stadium officials is fan activism that disrupts ongoing matches, which often includes fans throwing objects or trespassing onto the playing field. For example, in March 2022, a Just Stop Oil activist tied himself to a goalpost during an English Premier League match between Everton and Newcastle to raise awareness about the UK’s refusal to end the use of fossil fuels.

Law enforcement agencies across Europe are concerned about the impact of rising fan activism and socio-political issues. Some fan groups align with nationalist ideals, while others are closely associated with workers' movements or immigrant communities. Members of fan groups regularly engage in socio-political activism in areas around stadiums and in urban centers. In Germany, several fan groups have staged demonstrations denouncing the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in cities across the country, including Hanover, Cologne, and Mainz. Given the AfD’s continued popularity, further fan demonstrations, both inside and outside stadiums, are likely.

In the most extreme cases, rival fans with opposing political views can spark unrest and violence well away from stadium locations. Such was the case in the Netherlands in November 2024 when Maccabi Tel Aviv fans clashed with Ajax Amsterdam fans amid tensions over the Israel-Palestine conflict. In that case, Maccabi fans chanted pro-Israeli Defense Force and anti-Arab slogans while in Amsterdam, days after Ajax fans participated in pro-Palestinian protests ahead of Maccabi’s visit. As a result, heightened tensions and violent clashes preceded the match, leading authorities to ban all gatherings in the city and grant police emergency stop-and-search powers. 

Increasing fan activism and violent incidents in and around stadiums have led clubs and security forces to implement enhanced security measures designed to create a safer environment for spectators. These measures concentrate on preventing violence, ensuring crowd control, and upholding the integrity of the game.

In recent years, the desire for greater safety has driven football stadiums to progress significantly from standing terraces to modern all-seater venues. Previous fan incidents, including hooliganism and stampedes, have led to new police tactics, including the use of metal detectors, improved crowd control techniques, and non-matchday interventions such as banning orders. Advanced surveillance techniques facilitate real-time crowd monitoring and swift identification of potential threats, often using facial recognition technology. While there are concerns regarding privacy and data protection associated with surveillance technologies, many European clubs have addressed these issues. For example, clubs such as Brøndby IF in Denmark ensure that personal data collected through facial recognition is stored securely and only used to identify banned individuals. To alleviate fears about invasive surveillance practices, the system does not retain regular fans' images or data. Furthermore, these screening processes enable security personnel to identify offensive banners that could escalate tensions within the stadium and detect pyrotechnics and any tools that might facilitate unauthorized access to the field of play.

Preventing violence and unrest within and outside areas where stadiums are located requires cooperation between stadium officials and public security forces. This will likely take place continuously, with local authorities and stadium officials sharing intelligence ahead of and on matchdays. While technologies like CCTV, facial recognition, and access control systems can help deter hooliganism and disruptive activism, monitoring sociopolitical issues and fan activism can help head off unrest before it occurs. 

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