After decades, Uefa’s standing room ban will be lifted. The decision applies to the coming season. Initially, a test phase is planned in three countries.
The European football union Uefa will again allow standing room tickets to be sold in the coming European Cup season after decades. In Germany, France and England, fans can watch Champions League, Europa League and Conference League games “in accordance with national and local legislation”, the governing body announced on Wednesday. Excluded are the respective finals, which are not held in the three countries anyway.
The ARD “Sportschau” had previously reported on the decision of the Uefa Executive Committee, which initially applies to one season. The standing room ban was pronounced in the 1990s.
Exception for Union Berlin
“UEFA will commission independent experts to analyze the use of standing room at domestic and international club matches in these countries to assess the different dynamics between domestic and international fans and the associated safety implications,” said Uefa. At the end of the 2022/23 season, the test phase will be evaluated.
The German teams, eight of which will be represented internationally next season, have had to convert their standing areas and equip them with seat shells for Uefa competitions. This reduced the capacity. That’s gone now.
Europa League starter Union Berlin has had to play its home games in the Olympic Stadium so far. This will also be the case in the future because the local Alte Försterei does not meet the Uefa specifications, apart from the standing room regulations.