Project Background

The project encourages football authorities and other partner agencies involved with match day activities to recognise the value of enhanced dialogue and communication between all relevant stakeholders, particularly club supporter liaison officers (SLOs) and the football and public authorities.

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Following in the footsteps of two previous EU-funded projects on the importance of Good Governance in sport, LIAISE’s approach is one of collaboration and learning exchange to tackle the threat to the integrity of sport posed by spectator violence.

The supporter liaison officer (SLO) role, in particular, has unique potential in this regard by acting as a conduit or focal point for increased dialogue and more open communication with all invested stakeholders.

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LIAISE is funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union and co-financed by Uefa.

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ACTIVITIES

Project activities run over a two-year period from January 1, 2018 until December 31, 2019 and are informed by independent needs analysis.

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All partner countries will see the development of an action plan tailored to their own specific needs during the lifetime of the project and a focus on the challenges they specifically face. Other organisations that can benefit from the training and learning exchanges on offer will also be invited to take part.

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As well as the 10 project partners from eight EU countries, other entities involved include:

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SD Europe members, Uefa as co-funders, institutions such as the Pan-European Think Tank of Football Safety and Security Experts, as well as additional football bodies, supporters organisations and relevant external stakeholders and mentors.

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KEY EVENTS:

• Three training workshops that will focus on (i) supporter liaison, (ii) an integrated safety, security and service approach at football matches and (iii) supporter engagement

• A series of exchange visits between national football bodies, national association and club SLOs, as well as supporter organisations to see good practices and improvements in action

• Opening and closing meetings for the project’s work as well as a local event in each participating countries

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PROJECT OUTPUTS:

• Improved and updated resources available to anyone with an interest in developing the SLO role in their own environment

• Specific action plans for the countries involved, based on the training events and action-research exchanges

• SLO-specific annex to the EU Handbook on Police Liaison with Supporters

PROJECT PARTNERS

Eight football associations and leagues, two national supporters organisations and Football Supporters Europe (FSE) will be involved as partners and contributing organisations.

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National football bodies:

Български Футболен Съюз (BFU) Bulgarian Football Union (Bulgaria)

Ligová fotbalová asociace (LFA) Czech Football League (Czech Republic)

Fédération Française de Football (FFF) French Football Federation (France)

Polski Związek Piłki Nożnej (PZPN) Polish Football Association (Poland)

Federação Portuguesa de Futebol (FPF) Portuguese Football Federation (Portugal)

Svensk Elitfotboll (SEF) Swedish Football League (Sweden)

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Contributing organisations

Football Association of Ireland (FAI) (Ireland)

Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) (France)

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National supporter organisations 

L’Association nationale des supporters (ANS) National association of supporters (France)

Svenska Fotbollssupporterunionen (SFSU) Swedish Football Supporters Union (Sweden)

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Pan-European supporter organisations

Football Supporters Europe e.V. (FSE)