Ronan Evain of Football Supporters Europe warns that fan conditions are slipping in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands, with repeat offenders failing to meet basic standards. He cites France, Spain, Portugal and Italy treating supporters like a threat despite their tourism expertise. Security plans involve clubs, governments and UEFA, yet experiences differ wildly from city to city.

BBC‑surveyed fans described cramped arrivals, forced early check‑ins and inadequate toilet access in Naples, Marseille and Frankfurt. A wheelchair‑bound Villa fan spent a Champions League match in a locked cage, while a Chelsea supporter faced intimidation from ultras after a stabbing incident. These logistical failures, not rival violence, dominate complaints.

Evain links the decline to a political climate that shields police from accountability, noting governments use football to display force. The 2022 UEFA‑commissioned report blamed the governing body for lax oversight, but reforms remain absent. Clifford Stott of Keele University calls the stagnation “deeply concerning,” underscoring the urgent need for concrete safety changes.