European Fans' Congress 2011 - Invitation
Imagine Football Without Fans...?! European Football Fans' Congress 1-3 July 2011 Brøndby & Copenhagen
Imagine…
…you want to travel away to watch your favourite team but the police wouldn’t allow the fans to do so at all or you have to have all your personal data taken and stored before you can buy a ticket?!
…your club was sanctioned to play a match behind closed doors, so that an entire fanbase is punished for the wrongdoing of a minority at a previous match?!
…upon arrival at the stadium and without advance notice, you aren’t allowed to bring in your flags, banners and are not given any transparent reason?
…you demonstrate your commitment against racism with a banner inside the stadium and are arrested for it?!
…you can’t afford to watch your teams’ matches inside the stadium because ticket prices are far too high?
…you are treated harshly by the stewards or by the police or even have to undergo degrading body searches, e.g. conducted by the military or with the obligation to undress completely in a tent at the stadium entrance?
Are these extreme examples? Unfortunately rather not. In many countries in Europe, this or similar is the sad reality or even a more or less regular occurrence for fans in football. And this although it’s been also scientifically proven that disproportionate treatment and bad hosting of football supporters have a high likeliness of making things even worse and trigger more problems….
And what’s the ultimate consequence of collective punishment / negative treatment of fans and their various cultural forms of expression? Creating football without an atmosphere, with one-off event spectators only…football without fans?!
Fortunately, there is an increasing number of countries, where thanks to committed fans in the first place, but also to some authorities and football governing bodies, initiative has been taken to tackle unjust treatment and improve the hosting of, perspective on, and dialogue with football supporters as important contributors to the atmosphere and fan cultural forms of expression as essential part of the attractiveness of the game rather than the problem.
Thanks to the initiative taken by the fans’ group Alpha and Brøndby Support and with the support of the national fans’ organisation DFF as well as of Brondby IF, Copenhagen FC and UEFA, we will be able to discuss all of this in Brøndby and Copenhagen at our 4th European Football Fans’ Congress (EFFC), from 1-3 July 2011!
With the help of the Danish fans, we put together the biggest EFFC Programme ever for you, starting off with a fans’ tournament against discrimination under the motto All Colours Are Beautiful! on Friday morning (1 July), our traditional workshops with follow-up cross-European fans’ actions on Saturday (2 July), our AGM on Sunday (3 July), and social events at night over the entire weekend, such as a barbecue, guided stadium tours and a party at and around Copenhagen FC and a surprise event…
Just like in previous years, we’re looking forward again to welcoming football supporters from all around Europe and beyond! Also, we are inviting representatives from various institutions and football governing bodies to take the opportunity to liaise with supporters representatives from up to 40 European countries and discuss experiences and opinions with each other.
Participation in the EFFC 2011 is free of charge and we can provide small financial support for supporters in need with regards to their costs for travel and accommodation. However, please note that you need to register to be able to participate in the event!
More info on the EFFC programme and online registration forms can be found here on our website!
Deadline for registrations is 12 June 2011!
Looking forward to seeing you in Denmark!
