After decades, the European Football Association (UEFA) will once again allow standing room tickets to be sold in the coming European Cup season. In Germany, France and England, fans are allowed to watch Champions League, Europa League and Conference League matches “in accordance with national and local legislation”, UEFA announced on Wednesday. Excluded are the respective finals, which are not held in the three countries anyway.
The decision of the UEFA Executive Committee is initially valid for one season. The UEFA standing room ban was pronounced in the 1990s. “UEFA will commission independent experts to analyze the use of standing room at domestic and international club matches in these countries in order to assess the different dynamics between domestic and international fans and the associated safety implications,” UEFA said. At the end of the 2022/23 season, the test phase will be evaluated.
“This is great news,” said Borussia Dortmund’s managing director, Hans-Joachim Watzke. “Standing room is an important part of our football culture.” In recent years, the German Bundesliga club has campaigned intensively behind the scenes for standing room stands to be allowed in international competitions. “I would ask all fans to be responsible about this opportunity next season,” said Watzke. Dortmund’s stadium capacity in the Champions League will increase by more than 15,000 from 66,099 to 81,365.
