European football bodies urge authorities against blanket bans of away supporters

European football’s top clubs, leagues and national associations have teamed up with Football Supporters Europe (FSE) to urge public authorities to only use blanket bans of away fans at matches as a last resort. The united position was reached at the UEFA Safety and Security Conference in Madrid, where hundreds of experts gathered this week to discuss the contribution made by travelling supporters to European football and the challenges posed by collective bans. FSE, the umbrella group that represents fans’ associations in 50 European countries, has been lobbying against the disproportionate use of bans following a spate of high-profile examples…