On Tuesday, October 14, the House of Football hosted a seminar on «Providing security during Ukrainian championship and EURO 2012 preparation». The seminar was organized by FFU Stadia and Security Committee alongside with Premier League of Ukraine. It also featured delegates from Ministry of Home Affairs, Emergency Ministry, Security Service of Ukraine, Healthcare Ministry, Ministry for Youth, Family and Sports, clubs security officers and fan-clubs managers.

Question number one
«Security is number one issue. We should state that affray at the stadia tends to increase», - FFU vice president, Head of Stadia and Security Committee Borys Voskresenskiy spoke to the present. According to the information he possessed, ten rounds of Ukrainian Premier League saw 45 cases of breaking of the peace. Luckily, no one suffered, but «measures should be taken, otherwise people may get hurt».

Dynamics extends
Premier League general director Maksym Bondarev admitted that keeping peace during football matches requires adequate reaction. «The current situation is rather unpleasant. Furthermore its dynamics point out at deteriorating. We hold Premier League Control Disciplinary Committee meetings every Wednesday, notably 70-80% of cases have to do with security. Subsequently it affects the image of our football, makes the matches less visited. I reckon today we can work out a mechanism meant to improve the situation».

Hit on country’s reputation
Seminar participants paid a great deal of attention to using fires at the tributes and seats. Particularly, the fans of Dynamo, Shakhtar, Dnipro and Chornomorets, clubs being introduced on international level, resort to impermissible actions. However, fires aren’t the only problem existing. Offending banners, cussing at referees and opponents also spoil our country’s reputation.

Stewards to replace law-enforcement agency
Intense debates aroused around the presence of law-enforcement agents at the stadia. Deputy chief of Department of public security Volodymyr Salimskiy admitted that a considerable number of agents can be drawn out of the core of the stadium with stewards put instead.

Personal responsibility
In the opinion of Premier League club’s representatives it is necessary to use the system of personal amenability of those fans who break the rules in order to make the situation on the stands better and safer. When people know that they will pay a big money penalty in the case of some wrongdoing they won’t engage in hooliganism. But everyone agreed that firstly it is necessary to make some changes in regulatory and legal framework.

Common efforts
In order to realize this idea Football Federation of Ukraine (FFU) together with the clubs and law enforcement agencies of the State has an intention to work out and confirm enforcing rule of law and safety of competition holding measures on the level of the leaders of organizations interested in it. It is planned to join to this work the Ministry of Home Affairs, Emergency Ministry, Security Service of Ukraine, Healthcare Ministry, Ministry for Youth, Family and Sports, regional Football Federations, stadiums’ Administrations and Youth Football Union.