Press release
Together for a Safe Stadium Experience – BMI welcomes Evaluation of "Stadium Alliances in Football" by the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam
Fairness, respect and non-violence as core values in sport are inextricably linked to the safe organisation of sporting events and the prevention of spectator violence. A study by the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam confirms this: Cooperation between clubs, fan representatives, police and public order offices has a positive effect on the football experience and stadium safety. The so-called "stadium alliances" have now been scientifically investigated for the first time at the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam (FHP) under the direction of Prof. Dr. Werner Steffan and Dipl.-Soz. Andreas Klose at the Department of Social and Educational Sciences.
In a study published by the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Homeland (BMI) and the Federal Institute for Sports Science, the established structures of stadium alliances were analysed at the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam, initiated by the German Football League (DFL) and the Baden-Württemberg State Information Centre for Sports Operations (LIS), analysed and evaluated. With encouraging results:
Federal Minister of the Interior and Sports Minister Nancy Faeser: "Prevention works and prevents violence. The stadium alliances are successful and ensure greater safety in football. These are very pleasing results. The co-operation of all those involved at eye level creates trust. This also relieves the burden on police forces, who are always under a great deal of pressure during football matches. What already works well in Baden-Württemberg and Lower Saxony can also set a precedent in other federal states. Perhaps we can also win over the north and east of Germany to this approach in the future. Football still has a central role model function and a strong appeal for safe and non-violent sport in every respect. We will continue to strengthen the positive values of sport."
The stadium alliances were founded as a forum for the exchange of information and experience between clubs, fan representatives, affected police departments, public order offices and socio-educational fan projects. The approach has since been successfully transferred and adopted by other federal states. The stadium alliances focus on professional football from the 1st to the 3rd Bundesliga.
The basis of the stadium alliances is a regular, partnership-based exchange between all participants at eye level, which, in conjunction with coordinated deployment planning, has a de-escalating effect, builds mutual trust and, as a result, ensures a safe stadium experience – while at the same time reducing the number of security and police forces.
About the research analysis
This research report is based on a qualitative-quantitative mix of methods (document analysis, short online survey, expert interviews and focus groups) to document and evaluate the implementation of the stadium alliance in Baden-Württemberg and the conceptualisation phase in Lower Saxony.
The results of the analysis show that stadium alliances are seen as a useful addition to existing networking contexts by all participating stakeholder groups, in particular clubs, police, fan projects and local regulatory authorities.
Andreas Klose: "The strong, active support for the research process from all stakeholder groups in Baden-Württemberg and Lower Saxony is clear evidence of both the acceptance of the stadium alliances approach and the common desire to further optimise the current situation."
The evaluations to date show that the work of the stadium alliances – applying a consistent standard in terms of the level of security - has significantly reduced police deployment hours, the number of criminal charges and the number of injuries. This also applies to the organisation of so-called high-risk matches.
Of the local stadium alliance stakeholders surveyed, 91% expressed the need to use this format as a supplement to the regular meeting structures. In particular, the core groups of football clubs and police responded very positively to the questions that explicitly focussed on the need. Accordingly, the stadium alliances are most effective in the target dimensions "Improvement of communication" (rate of agreement with 'yes/rather yes' = 90%), "Safe stadium experience" (90%) and "Improved handling of network conflicts" (80%)".
The recommendations set out in the study include a regional expansion of the existing approaches and a possible extension of the model to other federal states – in each case as a participatory approach with the close involvement of local stakeholders.
The full study by the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam can be accessed via the following link
Final report "Stadium Alliances in Football – Current evaluation and prospects"
