Euro 2024: why the host nation is required to protect the human rights of football fans

By David McGillivray, Callum McCloskey, Conor Wilson, University of the West of Scotland

In recent years, several incidents have occurred at major football events where authorities have been heavily criticised by the general public, the media, academics and supporters for breaching the rights of football fans.

The 2022 Champions League Final in Paris is the most high-profile example, where Liverpool fans experienced difficulties travelling to the stadium, encountered crushing as they waited to get in and were subjected to tear gas fired by police.

Following reviews of the incident, initial criticism of supporters was replaced by complaints about the behaviour of police and stadium security, refocusing attention on the human rights of football fans.

Football authorities have since been forced to respond to pressure from advocacy groups such as the Sport and Rights Alliance and Football Supporters Europe. Uefa is the first football federation to include clauses related to human rights as part of its bidding process for Euro 2024, including requirements that potential hosts must “"proactively address human rights risks”

Uefa, alongside the German Football Association – Deutscher Fussball Bund (DFB) – and the Euro 2024 GmbH (a joint venture of Uefa and DFB) published their human rights declaration for the Euro 2024 tournament in November 2023. In it, Uefa and partners state that: “We all commit to jointly contribute to a tournament that highlights democracy, respect, equity and the promotion and protection of human rights.”

Crucially, the declaration reiterates the responsibility of government and event organisers to respect human rights throughout their tournament. This responsibility means identifying, preventing, and reducing actual or potential negative effects on fans, and reducing the likelihood of abuse. A range of other practical measures have been put in place at Euro 2024 to help uphold and protect human rights at the tournament.

One example is the stated role of the police at the Euros. This aims to ensure public safety and security while maintaining a tolerant, open approach.

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