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Date: 21st October 2024
Our friends at Level Playing Field have just published the results of their survey into the experiences of disabled supporters from clubs across England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland attending matches in Europe. In addition, the survey also explores the reasons why some disabled supporters have not been able to attend these games.
The key findings are as follows:
Poor Accessibility
The average rating for the level of accessibility and inclusion at clubs/stadiums in European club competitions was ‘poor’.
Only 20% of respondents gave a rating above ‘adequate’, whilst 53% selected options below ‘adequate’.
This is significantly worse than the average rating of ‘adequate’ from the equivalent question in our most recent Annual Fan Survey (2023), relating to stadiums in England and Wales. By contrast, only 21% of those respondents gave a rating below ‘adequate’.
Separated fans
Of the wheelchair users who told us that they had attended a European away match, 79% said that they had been required to sit with the home fans, as a visiting supporter.
UEFA shortcomings
When asked about UEFA’s communication with disabled fans, 29% of respondents rated it as ‘non-existent’.
Additionally, UEFA’s commitment to providing an accessible and inclusive matchday experience for disabled fans was rated between ‘poor’ and ‘very poor’.
The full survey details are very interesting and make fascinating reading for disabled and able-bodied fans alike. You can access it at this link.
Stephen Reside, SFSA Lead on Disability
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