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UEFA have agreed to series of new security arrangements at European matches after several instances of crowd trouble involving British fans last season.

A review by the Home Office has been completed with UEFA agreeing to new measures, including an increase in the use of stewards rather than riot police.

It follows problems involving Manchester United fans in Lens and Rome, Tottenham supporters in Seville, Liverpool fans at the Champions League final in Athens as well as Rangers fans in Osasuna.

Experts from the UK and other European countries will now work with UEFA to:



Ensure all European football stadia possess integrated crowd management and safety and security arrangements, in part to avoid over-reliance on the use of riot police.



Provide comprehensive safety and security standards for international football events.



Develop pan-European training for stadium safety officers, stewards and police.

Home Office minister Vernon Coaker, who announced the review of events last season, said: "I am delighted UEFA has agreed to work in partnership with safety and security experts from the UK and other European countries to help ensure football supporters can attend matches in Europe in a safe and secure environment.

"English fans have achieved a great deal since the dark days of mass hooliganism but they must build on their improved image and reputation by taking further responsibility. Supporters must play their part in reducing the risks."

UEFA president Michel Platini backed the move to cut the involvement of riot police.

He said: "Good stadium infrastructures, sophisticated safety and security measures, the de-escalation of the style of policing and better supporter behaviour are all part of a drive to make European football venues safer and more secure."

Sports minister Richard Caborn also welcomed the announcement.

Caborn said: "By working together hopefully scenes like those that were witnessed in Rome, Seville and Athens last season will become a thing of the past and be gone from football for good.

"Experience tells us from how we police football in this country and at last year's World Cup in Germany that if you treat people with respect they behave in the right way. Lessons from that can help drive up stadium safety on the continent."


The Football Supporters' Federation has welcomed the launch of the partnership.



Spokesman Kevin Miles said: "The fact that concerns about supporter safety are finally at the top of the agenda reflects real progress and suggests much more can be made.



"The FSF in England and Wales and our counterparts in the fans' representative groups from across Europe will have a vital role to play in all of this.



"It appears the authorities are finally going to take on board the opinions of the people with the most relevant first hand experience of problems at matches - the supporters themselves.



"Having collated dossiers of eye-witness accounts of recent incidents in Europe, we know how valuable supporters input can be and welcome the fact the football authorities seem to be acknowledging this."