On 25th August, the UEFA Executive Committee announced that the 2020 Super Cup would take place at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest, Hungary, in front of a reduced number of spectators.
Up to 30 percent of the stadium’s capacity was made available to spectators, including fans of the two competing clubs, FC Bayern Munich and Sevilla FC. UEFA explicitly stated that their intention was to use the fixture to “study precisely the impact of spectators on [its] Return to Play Protocols.”
In view of this, Football Supporters Europe (FSE) decided to conduct its own study to collect hard, reliable data on the viability of fans returning to stadia in UEFA club and national team competitions. The study also aimed to identify any issues that might arise from the implementation of public health measures and how these might be resolved.
To this end, FSE:
- Liaised with UEFA before, during, and after the match.
- Travelled to Budapest and attended the Super Cup.
- Spoke with the Local Organising Committee (LOC), Hungarian National Police, regional Non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and Hungarian fans.
- Met with fans’ representatives from both Bayern Munich and Sevilla.
- Created and shared a 23-question online survey for fans of both competing clubs, with an option for those who did not attend to explain why.
The FSE 2020 UEFA Super Cup Report summarises the findings of the survey, as well as FSE’s own observations and the observations of other relevant organisations. The report covers everything from entry into Hungary and the stadium to egress from the stadium and departure from Hungary. FSE believes the report demonstrates that it is possible for fans to attend UEFA club and national team competitions games safely if the correct public health measures are put in place and clearly communicated.