Wednesday, 22.02.2012
According to research of the UEFA experts and hosting countries representatives, which have carried out the detailed analysis of forthcoming tournament competition, no match of European championship group stage has a 'high risk' status. This was announced by the Director of local organizing committee "Euro 2012 Ukraine" Markiyan Lubkivsky.
"We estimated all the matches of group stage as low risk matches. We are preparing neither for "war", nor for confrontation or fans' battles; we are preparing a large football festival. We have analyzed all the matches after the drawing procedure on December 2, 2012. All games in Ukraine and Poland are low risk games", - underlined the Head of Ukrainian local organizing committee.
In the meantime, Markiyan Lubkivsky noted that every host country forms its own database of problematic fans, which migration is thoroughly controlled by executives of law enforcement authorities. Let us recall, that recently 119 English football fans were banned from travelling to the games of Euro 2012 final part in Ukraine and Poland. On the eve of the tournament they are to appear before the police stations and surrender their passports, which will remain there until the European championship ends. The British police have already warned the hooligans, that any their attempt to break a bun will be punishable by law. In the blacklist 39 Sunderland fans, 68 Newcastle fans and 12 Durham City fans were included.
Ukrainian law enforcement also has determined the list of problematic football fans. It includes 1250 men, which used to have problems with the law and violated public order during football matches. Ukrainian fans from the list will not be let come to stadiums, where Euro 2012 competitions take place. However, as police officials clarify, the blacklist fans can still appeal in court against a ban on visiting the matches.
Markiyan Lubkivsky has also noted that the question of European championship security is paid an unprecedentedly great attention in Ukraine. "The approaches for security safeguarding have changed; today it means not just bringing a certain quantity of police officers to the stadium. The task is much more complicated, it concerns the comfort of people and their security. That's why the stewarding is introduced, the stewards are provided training. It is one of most important innovations, - underlined the Head of local organizing committee. - The spectators on the stadiums will be assisted by people not only rendering service, but also able to operate preventively, if the situation is escalated or maybe goes out of control. The stewards must be able to make fast decisions".
According to Lubkivsky, the stewarding is actively introduced today at the stadiums in Kiev and Lviv, while at "Donbas Arena" such practice is applied for a few years. "In many questions we are guided by the standard of Donetsk stadium. Good progress rates in this point are also demonstrated by "Metallist" stadium", - said the Head of local organizing committee "Euro 2012 Ukraine".
