The Saint-Denis Convention has already been ratified by 33 states and signed by six others[1]. Over the past ten years, it has gradually become the global benchmark for safety, security and service during the organisation of football matches and other major sports events, aiming to ensure they take place in safe, secure, inclusive and welcoming environments.

Its guiding principle is to integrate safety, security and service, as these three aspects are interconnected and must function together. The goal is for every stakeholder, public or private, to assume their responsibilities in organising sports events and to work in a coordinated manner. Its monitoring body, the Saint-Denis Committee, established five years ago and usually meeting in Strasbourg twice a year, is the most important platform for international cooperation in this field, with over 65 delegations. It also provides technical assistance, monitors the implementation of the Convention, and develops new standards that become references, praised by all stakeholders[2].

The Saint-Denis Convention has been well received by all stakeholders in the safety, security, and service (S4) sector. Here are a few recent examples :

• The new version of the UEFA Regulation on Safety, Security and Service (currently being developed, with adoption by the UEFA Executive Committee planned for the end of 2026) emphasises, for the first time, the "service" pillar; this is a direct result of the work carried out by the Committee in recent years to strengthen this pillar (notably through the joint European Union - Council of Europe "Balance S4" project);
• A joint statement, "European football unites to limit collective stadium bans targeting visiting supporters," was published on September 3 by major actors in European football — UEFA, EFC (European Football Clubs), FSE (Football Supporters Europe), and EL (European Leagues). This text fully endorses the principles set out in Recommendation (2025)1 of the Saint-Denis Committee on the use of collective bans against away football supporters.

The relevance of the "service" element, which supports the "safety" and "security" pillars, is gaining importance within the framework of the Saint-Denis Convention. This is evident in monitoring visits and conferences, as well as in best practices observed in several countries.

In order to review this first decade of success and to discuss future challenges, a conference will be held in Monaco on 3 November 2026, at the Grimaldi Forum, from 4:00 to 6:30 PM, which can be followed online (link to be available soon).