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"Football, Host Cities and RESPECT" in Barcelona

News - 29 January 2010

Pan-European fan hosting seminar and declaration of goodwill signing ceremony

Cities, clubs and representatives of Football Supporters Europe (FSE) are gathering in Barcelona on 1 and 2 February for a seminar, which is aimed at sharing experiences of hosting international football matches – with hospitality and fair play within the host cities as major focal points.

The Fan Hosting Seminar – held under the theme “Football, Host Cities and RESPECT” brings together a variety of football stakeholders in the Catalan football stronghold on the 2nd of February.

On the previous day, a declaration of goodwill will be signed by representatives of European cities and football clubs to promote fair play within cities hosting international football matches. It is being proposed by UEFA and the City of Barcelona. The ceremony will be attended by UEFA President Michel Platini, Jordi Hereu, Mayor of Barcelona, mayors of European cities, as well as high level officials from football clubs belonging to the European Club Association (ECA), the body which represents 144 clubs from all 53 UEFA member associations.

The declaration will emphasise a shared goodwill among clubs, host cities and fans to combat violence, acts of vandalism and other forms of anti-social conduct at international football matches; seek to improve communication and information exchanges at such gatherings; look at ways of how to best welcome and host large numbers of supporters at games; examine methods of providing support to visiting fans with regards to information about the customs and laws of the city they are visiting.

“The UEFA club competitions are major sports and media events in Europe,” underline UEFA President Michel Platini and the Mayor of Barcelona, Jordi Hereu, in their invitation to the seminar. “Thanks to its popularity, European football not only attracts supporters to stadiums, but also offers media exposure to host cities as prized tourist destinations.

“However, European cities which host international matches sometimes face public order problems before and after a match. We are all aware of the importance of solving such problems and promoting hospitality, respect for fair play, fairness and sportsmanship not only inside stadiums, but also in the host city streets.

“UEFA and the city of Barcelona have therefore taken the joint decision to propose that European cities and football clubs sign a declaration of goodwill to promote fair play within cities hosting international football matches,” they add.

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