On September 4 CEST, The Athletic reported that several top European football clubs, major leagues, and national football associations have reached a joint initiative with Football Supporters Europe (FSE), calling on public authorities to use blanket bans on away fans from attending matches only as a "last resort."

The consensus was reportedly reached at UEFA's Safety and Security Conference held in Madrid. Hundreds of professionals gathered there this week to discuss the contribution of away fans to European football and the challenges posed by blanket bans.

As an umbrella organization representing supporter groups from 50 European countries, Football Supporters Europe has previously lobbied against and protested the overuse of bans by relevant authorities. One of the most prominent incidents occurred in November 2025, when Birmingham City Council and West Midlands Police banned Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from traveling to watch their Europa League match against Aston Villa.

The decision was heavily criticized by Sir Keir Starmer, then serving as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Craig Guildford, Chief Constable of West Midlands Police, subsequently retired early and is currently under investigation for serious misconduct related to his recommendation to impose a blanket ban on Israeli club fans from attending matches.

Although this incident garnered global attention, it was far from an isolated case. During the second leg of the 2023 UEFA Europa Conference League semifinal, Basel fans were banned from traveling to Nice because French local authorities feared a domestic strike would compromise event security, despite no prior conflict between the two supporter groups. Basel fans ultimately watched the match in bars along the France-Switzerland border.

In 2024, local authorities in Lyon imposed a blanket ban on Beşiktaş fans before a Champions League match based on fan violence from seven years prior; Paris police also refused entry to PSV Eindhoven supporters for their Champions League match against PSG.

In 2025, France's Interior Ministry attempted to close the France-Belgium border to prevent Feyenoord fans from traveling to Lille for a match; Paris police attempted to ban Bayern Munich fans from attending their match against PSG; and the Prefect of Naples banned Eintracht Frankfurt fans from their away fixture.

All these cases and similar incidents were heavily criticized by supporter organizations at the time, who viewed such actions as overreactions to security risks, often without accountability mechanisms, due process, or transparency.

These protests caught the attention of the Council of Europe. The international organization, founded in 1949, aims to uphold human rights and the rule of law in Europe and currently has 46 member states, including the United Kingdom.

In October 2025, its Steering Committee on Safety, Security and Service in Football Matches issued a non-binding recommendation to member states regarding blanket bans on away fans. The recommendation stated that national laws on bans from sporting events "should prioritize individual accountability over collective restrictions, ensuring that penalties are applied appropriately to those responsible for disruption."

The recommendation also stated that blanket bans "should only be considered in extraordinary circumstances and must be supported by clear, new, and objective evidence," adding that such decisions should be made following extensive consultation and communicated to fans as quickly as possible to avoid unnecessary travel and accommodation costs.

Following this week's conference in Madrid, UEFA, the European Club Association, European Leagues, and Football Supporters Europe jointly endorsed the Council of Europe's recommendation and collectively called on public authorities across Europe to adhere to five core principles: prioritizing individual accountability, imposing blanket bans only in extraordinary circumstances, ensuring football stakeholder involvement in decision-making, guaranteeing timely communication, and promoting fairness.

In a joint statement, the four organizations said: "All fans, including away fans, are essential to the atmosphere, cultural identity, popularity, and integrity of football matches at all levels."

"Under relevant laws and regulations, following one's team both at home and away is a fundamental right for supporters. This is a long-standing tradition valued in European football culture."

Football Supporters Europe added on its social media platform: "Away fans are part of European stadiums. Blanket bans should not be a routine response to safety and security concerns."

However, it remains to be seen how UEFA itself will address the issue when imposing disciplinary sanctions for fan misconduct in European club competitions.

While this initiative primarily calls on local councils, national governments, and police to exercise greater caution in their decision-making, UEFA itself has previously issued blanket bans on away fans – most commonly in 2023, when UEFA imposed a five-match away ban on Legia Warsaw fans for serious disruption during a UEFA Europa Conference League match against Aston Villa.

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