1. FC Union Berlin welcomes the decision on the test phase: UEFA again allows standing room in European Cup sports
After centuries, the European football union UEFA will again allow the sale of standing room tickets in the coming European Cup season.
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In Germany, France and England, fans are allowed to watch matches in the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League “in accordance with national local and legal regulations”, the governing body said on Wednesday. Excluded are the respective finals, which are not held in the three countries anyway.
The ARD “Sportschau” had previously reported on the decision of the UEFA Executive Committee, which initially applies to one season. UEFA’s standing room ban was announced in 1998.
“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.
1. FC Union Berlin in particular could benefit from the regulation, which has significantly more standing than seating available in its home stadium An der Alten Försterei. So far, it has been planned that the club will play its home games in the upcoming European Cup season at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium, run by local rivals Hertha BSC.
“We are very happy about this decision, because it gives us the opportunity to play European Cup games in our stadium for the first time in our club’s history,” said club president Dirk Zingler on Wednesday.
“Of course we would have really liked to show a lot of people in the Berlin Olympic Stadium how much fun Union can be, but we definitely want to take advantage of the historic opportunity to experience European Cup evenings at the Alte Försterei,” said Zingler. “We will discuss and implement the necessary infrastructural adjustments with the UEFA Stadium Committee as soon as possible.”
The decision from Nyon was also welcomed at Borussia Dortmund. “That’s great news,” said BVB Managing Director Hans-Joachim Watzke. “Standing places are an important part of our football culture. In recent years, Borussia Dortmund has been working intensively behind the scenes to allow standing room grandstands in international competitions. I ask all fans to use this opportunity responsibly next season.”
The Dortmund stadium capacity in the Champions League will thus increase by more than 15,000 from the current 66,099 seats to 81,365 seats. (dpa)