For the first time ever, there will be a cooperation between the Daniel Nivel Foundation and the supporter organisation „Football Supporters Europe“ (FSE) at EURO 2016. In the context of the project “RESPECT FAN CULTURE – Fans’ Embassies at EURO 2016”, both organisations aim at promoting preventative, hospitable conditions and supporter dialogue for the fans of the national teams at EURO 2016 and beyond in France.
The DANIEL NIVEL FOUNDATION was established in 2000, after police officer Daniel Nivel was critically injured by German hooligans during the World Cup in June 1998 in France. FIFA, UEFA as well as the German football association DFB and the French football federation FFF are involved in the foundation. Since its formation, the organisations’ activities were dedicated to different measures around the research on football-related violence and the promotion of new, preventative concepts of supporter dialogue, in particular the dialogue between fans and police via so-called “Future Workshops”, as well as the creation of hospitable conditions for supporters.
The project “RESPECT FAN CULTURE – Fans’ Embassies at EURO 2016” coordinated by FSE is part of the official Social Responsibility Programme of UEFA for the tournament and is also actively supported by it, as well as by a variety of institutions in France. At the heart of the project are the provision of information and support services for travelling supporters from up to 20 participating countries. These services are usually organised by active supporters from these countries themselves, whilst many of those are closely cooperating with their national football associations for the first time in the context of this project.
As part of the project implementation, the Daniel Nivel Foundation will particularly support the coordination, the trainings and evaluation meetings of the international Fans’ Embassy teams of FSE, as well as the provision of information services for supporters travelling in France.
FSE Coordinator Daniela Wurbs: „We are very happy about the partnership with the Daniel Nivel Foundation in the framework of the project RESPECT FAN CULTURE. The cooperation meets the objectives of both organisations in this field. On top of that, it is a strong historical symbol for what has since been achieved in the area of prevention – also via the work of the Daniel Nivel Foundation. For the first time since the tragic events at World Cup 1998 and through this project, organised supporters with the Daniel Nivel Foundation, and with the football governing bodies represented in it, are making an international contribution towards preventative fan hosting and thus towards more safety & security and better conditions for all fans at a major football event together.”
Further information on the project „RESPECT FAN CULTURE – Fans‘ Embassies at EURO 2016“ is available via this link.