No Eintracht fans in Naples: exclusion of guest fans – a trend continues

Eintracht Frankfurt’s fans are not allowed to play at SSC Naples in the Champions League, fans of Ajax are excluded from the game at Olympique Marseille. The trend started in 2022 – and continues. Fan representatives demand a rethink and say: “Fans have the same fundamental rights as all other European citizens“.

For many fans of teams in European competitions, authorities have now become an integral part of travel planning. At the time of the Champions League, fans of Eintracht Frankfurt almost had to expect that there will be at least restrictions on the game at SSC Naples on November 4 – and they came. Michele de Bari, the prefect of Naples, imposed one “Prohibition of ticket sales to Frankfurt citizens for all areas of the stadium”as it was said in a message from the prefecture. This is done on the advice of the police headquarters.

A few weeks ago, fans of Ajax Amsterdam had a similar message in relation to the Champions League game at Olympique Marseille. “For reasons of public order and security, Marseille’s authorities advise against allowing Ajax fans to access the city and the stadium”said Ajax. The club from Amsterdam reported that it “Objection raised and tried to make the parties involved with arguments to rethink” – in vain. The club from Amsterdam assumes that the ministry will follow the recommendation and agree to the ban. Fans of Paok Saloniki were also not approved in the playoffs for the Europa League at the Croatian club HNK Rijeka on the decision of the Croatian authorities.

Eintracht board Reschke: “Unfortunately, it has become common practice”

Eintracht Frankfurt announced that the ban had been controversial at an appointment in the Italian Ministry of the Interior in Rome in the presence of the UEFA. “As a result, we unfortunately have to note that the strategy of excluding away fans of high -risk games, in Italian football – nationally and internationally – has now become common practice”said Eintracht Frankfurt’s board member Philipp Reschke.

The question has not yet been clarified whether Eintracht Frankfurt will act against the decision. “Chances of success, the meaning and purpose of any legal remedies against the decree are carefully checked”according to Eintracht. The UEFA is requested by the sports show for a statement.

Fan alliance: “Fans have the same fundamental rights as all citizens”

The European Fan Alliance Football Supporters Europe (FSE) has often warned of development. “Fans have the same fundamental rights as all other European citizens”says FSE director Ronan Evain in an interview with the sports show. “You have the right to move freely and accompany your team as you want. Of course there can be special security conditions for risk games, but these must be proportionate and respect the fundamental rights of the fans.”

Especially in France and Italy, but also in other countries, guest fans have been excluded in numerous games since 2022. “Bad ideas spread quickly in the world of football”criticizes Evain. “Travel bans are simple solutions for complicated problems and therefore attractive for some – especially at a time when many European countries succumb to populism.”

* in court canceled
** In terms of legitimate, Eindhoven waived his contingent due to the short -term nature

Riots 2023 in Naples despite Guest exclusion

The measures did not always have the desired effect. Because in some games there were still riots in the cities, such as 2023 in the game of SSC Naples against Eintracht Frankfurt. The authorities referred to the events at the time to justify the current ban. The prefect of Naples argues with the “High risk to public order and security due to the rivalry between the fan communities”.

Other fan exclusions were also justified with reference to bad experiences with certain fan groups or fears to be feared between rival groups. As with the game Naples against Frankfurt, there is often a prehistory, for example in the game between Olympique Lyon and Besiktas Istanbul, where there was riots in 2017.

“We also share the view that, according to the incidents in 2023, it would have been an extraordinary high -risk game”said Frankfurt board member Reschke. “But fan exclusions are and remain the wrong answer.”

Evain from Football Supporters Europe sees it similarly. “If an authority decides to close the guest area, it shoots herself into the knee by giving up this important security instrument and endangering everyone”says Evain. “The best proof of this is that the enforcement of a travel ban usually requires significantly more police forces than organizing a game under regular conditions.”

Ceferin 2023: “We have to say: If something like this happens, it will not be played there”

The ban on Frankfurt fans in Naples 2023 by local authorities was one of the first of this kind in the recent history. “This situation is intolerable and we urgently need to do something about it, because the decision of the authorities is absolutely incorrect”said Uefa President Aleksander Ceferin in 2023 on ZDF. “We have to say: If something like this happens, it is not played there. Simply: We will change the rules.” However, the rules have not been changed since then.

“A change of standard is actually not necessary for a game laying”said sports lawyer Stephan Dittl in an interview with the sports show. According to the UEFA regulations, the home clubs have to leave the fans of the guest club at least five percent of the tickets. “If the home association is not allowed to sell the cards, it cannot fulfill this obligation. This raises the question of whether the UEFA gives up the club to move the game to a place where this obligation can be fulfilled.”

This argument also leads FSE director Evain. “The opening of the guest block is part of the rules, just like the size of the field or the number of media places. Club and authorities cannot choose what rule they comply with and which are not”said Evain. “And playing the game on neutral soil is one of the options available to the UEFA.”