UEFA and National Football Information Point sign cooperation protocol
Friday, October 6, 2023
Article summary
First formal agreement will enhance ongoing efforts to provide a safe and welcoming environment at all European football matches.
Article top media content
Article body
UEFA and the European Group of Policing Football and National Football Information Point experts (NFIP) have signed a first-ever cooperation protocol.
The agreement was signed by UEFA general secretary Theodore Theodoridis and Adrian Dinca, chair of the European Group of Policing Football and NFIP Experts, at this year's UEFA Annual Safety & Security Conference in Rome.
The agreement will further relations between the two organisations, enhancing and tightening a bond that focuses on ensuring everybody attending football matches across Europe can do so in a friendly and welcoming environment.
Theodore Theodoridis, UEFA general secretary:
"This partnership outlines how we will work together as a team to promote and further develop safety and security services at UEFA matches. The agreement outlines the central role that the NFIP network plays in Europe as regards to football policing.
"Cooperation is very much at the heart of this new partnership. We are all partners in making sure everyone can enjoy the game regardless of background, age and ability, for example. "Working together is the key to success."
Adrian Dinca, European Group of Policing Football and NFIP Experts chair:
"Our cooperation reaches a historical milestone today with the signing of a cooperation agreement between the NFIP network and UEFA. This is the first written agreement between our two organisations, which will enable us to scale up and enhance our joint approach and further invest in our common goal – provide a safe, secure and welcoming environment for all fans attending football matches across Europe."
What is the NFIP?
The NFIP Network is comprised of leading governmental and football policing experts drawn from all 27 EU member states and other non-EU States that are responsible for policing European and international football matches - currently made up of 38 active members.
The group was established in 2001 by the Interior Ministry and policing football specialists in Belgium, Germany, Netherlands and the UK in the wake of the 1998 FIFA World Cup UEFA EURO 2000, aiming to develop Europe-wide measures for preventing and tackling football-related violence and disorder and minimise safety and security risks to the millions of supporters who attend matches or reside and work in the vicinity of football stadiums.