UEFA to investigate Lille crowd problems

By: Bob | February 21st, 2007

It was an all too familiar frightening scene Tuesday night at the Stade Felix-Bollaert in Lens as Manchester United took on Lille in the Champions League. Not long into the match a group of Manchester United fans were crushed against the metal security barrier separating the supporters from the field, forcing security officials to help at least two fans over the fence and onto the field for safety. Thankfully a tragedy was avoided but for anyone who remembers the disaster at Hillsborough in 1989 where 96 fans were crushed to death the scene was numbing.

UEFA announced today that they are investigating the incident and determining whether sanctions against Lille will be handed out. Some are even calling for the French club to be expelled from the competition because of the crowd situation and because of Lille’s protest after Ryan Giggs scored on a late free kick.

The biggest thing I take away from this is that we are once again reminded that there are stadiums throughout Europe and the world that are ill equipped to assure the safety of football fans. The fact that Lille had to play in a stadium in Lens because their own stadium isn’t adequate for European competition speaks volumes. Lille is not a club struggling to get by in a money poor league. They are in the Champions League round of 16 and will make tons of money because of it. The fact that the stadium in Lens hosted World Cup matches back in 1998 and still could see fans crushed against a metal fence speaks volumes about the current level of safety standards. The fact that police fired tear gas into a crowd that was being crushed speaks volumes about how the very security that is designed to protect fans can harm them.

Yet in France, in Italy and in leagues around the world clubs are still too slow or unwilling to invest the money it takes to provide a safe environment for spectators and for the players. Domestic leagues, UEFA and FIFA are still willing to turn a blind eye to it all. They are playing Russian roulette with the lives of innocent people who simply want to watch a sporting event.

Thankfully a tragedy was avoided this time. If improvements aren’t made and if clubs aren’t serious about making their stadiums safe, the next time we might not be so lucky.