William Gaillard admits it is difficult for Uefa to ensure there is a pan-European security policy for games.
The Uefa spokesman recently upset Liverpool supporters for criticising their behaviour at the UEFA Champions League final against Milan in Athens in May.
Gaillard feels a small minority were responsible for the problems and feels minor factions across the continent are behind the bulk of the trouble.
"If you go to the football supporters' organisation's website, you will see it's quite interesting the testimony of the Liverpool fans who were in Athens and many experienced problems," Gaillard told Sky Sports News.
"They said there is a small group of people that, and they put it this way, make it a badge of honour to get into stadiums without paying.
"That's also a case in some English stadiums and supporters themselves are saying that.
"The problem, I think, is very much a marginal one in England, but away we have problems.
"For example, there was some racism this year, we've had problems also of organised groups of supporters, mostly in Southern Europe, who belong to extremist political factions who want confrontations with police or stewards.
"We have drinking problems, which is more prevalent in Northern Europe. All these factors make it difficult to have a pan-European policy, but this is what we are working on."
Gaillard also acknowledged the desire to ensure fans can still travel safely across the continent for fixtures.
He added: "The priority is to make the life of supporters a lot easier and make sure the most important priority is security and safety.
"We never experienced this years ago. The number of fans travelling throughout Europe is a tremendously positive phenomenon.
"It brings people together and we have to make sure it never turns into a tragedy."
Source : www.skysports.com
By Mark Buckingham - Created on 26 Jun 2007
The Uefa spokesman recently upset Liverpool supporters for criticising their behaviour at the UEFA Champions League final against Milan in Athens in May.
Gaillard feels a small minority were responsible for the problems and feels minor factions across the continent are behind the bulk of the trouble.
"If you go to the football supporters' organisation's website, you will see it's quite interesting the testimony of the Liverpool fans who were in Athens and many experienced problems," Gaillard told Sky Sports News.
"They said there is a small group of people that, and they put it this way, make it a badge of honour to get into stadiums without paying.
"That's also a case in some English stadiums and supporters themselves are saying that.
"The problem, I think, is very much a marginal one in England, but away we have problems.
"For example, there was some racism this year, we've had problems also of organised groups of supporters, mostly in Southern Europe, who belong to extremist political factions who want confrontations with police or stewards.
"We have drinking problems, which is more prevalent in Northern Europe. All these factors make it difficult to have a pan-European policy, but this is what we are working on."
Gaillard also acknowledged the desire to ensure fans can still travel safely across the continent for fixtures.
He added: "The priority is to make the life of supporters a lot easier and make sure the most important priority is security and safety.
"We never experienced this years ago. The number of fans travelling throughout Europe is a tremendously positive phenomenon.
"It brings people together and we have to make sure it never turns into a tragedy."
Source : www.skysports.com
By Mark Buckingham - Created on 26 Jun 2007
