Even though the fan advocate’s grandma always said that life isn’t a wish concert, we football fans are still allowed to make a few wishes for the New Year. Crazy domestic politicians or association officials who fear change as much as the devil fears holy water should feel sensitively addressed.
In any case, we don’t need a year like the one that just passed again. Domestic politicians who see active fan scenes as evil par excellence, police officers who have never heard of de-escalation. FIFA protagonists like Gianni Infantino, for whom power and money are much more important than the game on the pitch and the fan culture in the stands. No, it wasn’t a good year for football lovers.
Politicians and police officers would benefit from a little more prudence and expertise. Quick fixes such as restrictions on fan rights should definitely be avoided in 2026. We fans are really tired of playing the whipping boys for erring politicians. If you want to talk about fan culture and fan behavior, you have to talk to the fans – and not just about them. People like Infantino must be stopped, otherwise we will soon no longer recognize football. The game itself, the culture that supports it, must be preserved.
Politicians and officials urgently need to understand all of this and much more. Otherwise, tennis balls and demonstrations like in Leipzig will soon be the least of their problems.
“Sport free!” from the fan advocate.
Worth a look
