Supporters Direct to roll out their work to the rest of Europe

Following reports from the Independent European Sport Review, the European Parliament and the EC White Paper, UEFA asked Supporters Direct UK to ‘investigate the feasibility of extending its work to Europe’.

The report was launched after being presented to UEFA at a meeting between fan representatives and President Michel Platini and senior UEFA officials in Nyon on Monday.

The study was conducted over 12 month and covers 46 countries. It provides an overview of the environment in which fan groups exist, reaching from the governance of the game by its governing bodies, the ownership and governance structures of football clubs to the diversity of fan culture in each country. Overall more than 50 supporters groups, individuals, academics and football governing bodies have contributed to the report.

Chief Executive of SD, Dave Boyle, said, “This is a very thorough study which will not only help fans but be of real value to policymakers and we are very grateful for the support provided by UEFA to help us produce it.”

“It is clear that there are many common themes in the ambitions fans across Europe have in wanting to become more involved in how their clubs are owned and run and more important than the advice we give them is the help they can give each other.”

Supporters Direct have since received a further grant from UEFA to assess how they can provide practical assistance to service the demand the report identifies but are already helping groups in 13 countries including Italy, Germany, Spain, the Czech Republic, Sweden and Israel. They have also secured the support of one of the world’s leading law firms – Cleary Gottlieb LLP – to provide pro bono advice to groups, the first beneficiaries of which are fans of Modena FC in Italy.

Click here for a copy of the full report or an executive summary (also available in German or French).

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