Chair of Level Playing Field, Tony Taylor, has written to UEFA General Secretary Theodore Theodoridis, with a series of questions on the provisions for disabled fans at the Champions League Final.
Further details can be found here and the full letter can be read below:
Dear Mr Theodoridis,
We are writing to you, after receiving deeply troubling reports on the provisions for disabled supporters at this season’s UEFA Champions League Final.
Following the horrific events in Paris last year, a repeat of so many failures should concern us all. Manchester City fans attending the final have detailed hazardous and potentially life endangering conditions for disabled supporters’ arrival and departure from the Atatürk Olympic Stadium and rubble footpaths unsuitable and inaccessible for ambulant, blind, and partially sighted supporters, as well as wheelchair users.
Once again, members of the media were placed in designated accessible spaces, as was the case last season. This repetition puts it beyond an error and suggests it is a UEFA policy to prioritise media ahead of disabled supporters.
Match day experiences for many fans were ruined by limited access and long queues for water, as well as an inadequate level of consideration in the Fan Zone, which was exasperated by your extreme recommended arrival time.
In response to our questions after the 2022 Champions League Final, UEFA told us: “We (UEFA) constantly work to ensure the best possible conditions to eliminate barriers to access to UEFA competitions matches.” This is demonstrably untrue.
Please answer the following questions and provide accountability for the catastrophic errors, which have been repeated at another showpiece event.
Following last year’s review, what actions were implemented to improve the experience of disabled supporters at the event?
How many accessible spaces were available inside the stadium and how many of the usual spaces were repurposed?
Was there any dialogue with disabled Manchester City supporters ahead of the final?
The stadium was originally intended as the destination for the 2020 final. Has there been an updated access appraisal or audit since then?
How many buses and accessible spaces for each bus were expected to be available for the final and how many journeys were they actually in use for?
Why was there a severe lack of stewards during the egress of the stadium?
Was disability inclusion at the forefront of your considerations, when choosing a destination for the final? if so, what was your view on access for this final?
What are the accessible criteria that UEFA commits to when selecting a host city?
We noticed the events at the final came in the same week as you launched your new FootbALL programme, which you claim: ‘will ensure an era of inclusive and equal opportunity in European football through close collaboration with all European football stakeholders to foster positive social change.’ This campaign means nothing, while UEFA’s real-world actions continue to exclude disabled fans.
Level Playing Field would welcome the opportunity to facilitate dialogue between UEFA and disabled supporters impacted by the repeated failures at its showpiece events. We would encourage a transparent approach to the review process and planning of upcoming events and are willing to advise on this. Please provide meaningful action and deliver accountability for the unacceptable treatment disabled supporters have once again received.
When next year’s final is held at Wembley Stadium, you must understand it will be scrutinised heavily, with an expectation that disabled fans will be treat with the respect they deserve, and accessibility will be a priority. This discussion must not be required again, in 12 months’ time.
Yours sincerely,
Tony Taylor
Chair – Level Playing Field