Welcome to the Centre for Access to Football in Europe
Find out more at www.cafefootball.eu
UEFA impose partial stadium closure on Paris Saint-Germain
UEFA has today imposed a partial stadium closure for one match on Paris Saint-Germain, after finding them guilty of discriminatory conduct towards disabled Chelsea FC fans.
http://www.uefa.org/disciplinary/index.html
Proceedings were opened in May under article 14 of UEFA’s disciplinary regulations for racism, other discriminatory conduct and propaganda.
The match, a UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg, was played on 2nd April in Paris, and disabled Chelsea fans had to sit below a section of home supporters who they alleged abused, threatened and threw bottles and spat at them.
CAFE Managing Director, Joyce Cook OBE, said “We welcome the determined decision taken by UEFA which sends a clear message to all clubs that abuse of disabled fans will not be tolerated. CAFE understands that this was a particularly unpleasant incident with the Chelsea disabled fans abused and threatened by a minority of home fans whom they were confronted by based on being in the wrong place through no fault of their own. This could have happened at a number of European clubs where disabled away fans have no choice but to sit with the opposing home fans and we have had other reports of similar incidents in the past. It is discriminatory to provide a disabled person with a lesser experience and fans naturally want to sit with their own fans as a part of the match day experience. When that lesser experience leaves disabled people vulnerable and subject to abuse purely because they are disabled, then it is discrimination. If these fans had been non-disabled fans, they almost certainly wouldn’t have even been allowed into that part of the stadium. The UEFA and CAFE Access for All Guide offers clear guidance in this respect. PSG will act as one of the hosts for UEFA EURO 2016 with significant access improvements already being planned and we are looking forward to working with PSG and other clubs in a similar situation to help implement inclusive solutions that will leave a lasting legacy of the tournament for all football fans.”
This is the first time that UEFA has charged a club with abusing disabled fans. More information about UEFA’s disciplinary division can be found at http://www.uefa.org/disciplinary/index.html.
Please find previous links to this news story here:
http://www.cafefootball.eu/en/news/paris-st-germain-charged-over-abuse-disabled-chelsea-fans
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27600994
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2599162/Disabled-Chelsea-fans-coins-bottles-chewing-gum-thrown-PSG.html
Download 'Access for All'
'Access for All' - The UEFA and CAFE Good Practice Guide to Creating an Accessible Stadium and Matchday Experience - is now available via the CAFE website in 13 European languages. The aim of the guide is to provide a benchmark of good practice for both new and existing stadiums, offering practical, clear solutions that will help football clubs, national associations and stadium managers to deliver high-quality grounds with facilities and services that are accessible, inclusive and welcoming for all.
Read more
Reminder - we have moved!
The CAFE team are all settled at our new home in London. As a result of the move, our postal address and contact telephone numbers have changed. You can now write to CAFE at the following address:
Centre for Access to Football in Europe,
No.1 Olympic Way,
Wembley,
London,
HA9 0NP
United Kingdom
You can also call the CAFE helpline on +44 (0)20 8621 2405.
The new office is just a stone’s throw away from Wembley Stadium, which means that CAFE will be right at the heart of football and in prime location. Please note that contact details for the CAFE team members working in Poland and Ukraine remain unchanged. All CAFE email addresses will also stay the same.
Be sure to update your address books with the above information, so that we can continue to receive your correspondence.
If you have any questions or queries, you can email CAFE at info@cafefootball.eu at any time.
|
