Germany is set to host the highly anticipated UEFA European Football Championship 2024, but news has emerged that will likely disappoint many fans. Despite recent movements towards reintroducing standing areas in European football, Standing Euro zones will not be available for supporters during the tournament. This decision means that fans attending EURO 2024 will be required to remain seated, even though UEFA has, in principle, permitted safe standing in European club competitions after a two-decade ban.
Empty stadium seating with a sign overlay stating 'No standing fans during EURO 2024', illustrating the decision against standing areas at the upcoming tournament in Germany.
The UEFA Euro 2024, or simply Euro 2024, marks the 17th edition of this prestigious international men’s football championship, organized by UEFA. Scheduled across Germany from June 14th to July 14th, 2024, the tournament promises top-tier football action. However, the absence of standing euro areas may impact the atmosphere for some fans accustomed to standing and chanting in dedicated zones.
UEFA, the governing body for European football, had earlier this year signaled a potential shift in policy by allowing trials for safe standing in European club matches in countries like England, Germany, and France. This pilot program raised hopes that standing euro sections could become a feature at EURO 2024, enhancing fan experience and stadium atmosphere. The ban on standing in European club competitions has been in place since 1998, leading clubs, particularly in the Bundesliga, to invest significantly in converting standing areas to seated sections for these events. While standing areas are being tested again in domestic leagues within Germany, France, and England, this change will not extend to the European Championship in 2024.
The German Football Association (DFB) clarified that the timeline of UEFA’s safe standing pilot project is the primary reason for this decision. The results of the pilot program are expected in the summer of 2023, just a year before EURO 2024. According to the DFB, this timeframe is “too short a timespan to integrate the pilot decisions with the ticket concept of EURO 2024.” Therefore, even with the ongoing discussions and trials around safe standing, standing euro sections will not be implemented for the upcoming tournament in Germany.
Ronan Evain from Football Supporters Europe expressed the disappointment of many fans, stating, “This is a huge opportunity which we will miss.” The absence of standing euro zones at EURO 2024 represents a missed opportunity to enhance fan culture and potentially create a more vibrant stadium atmosphere, especially considering the ongoing positive movement towards safe standing in football.
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