The Committee on Safety and Security at Sports Events, of the Saint-Denis Convention, adopted, on 6 October 2025, a Recommendation on the use of collective bans against away football supporters (Rec (2025)1).
This Recommendation defines a banning order as legal or statutory mechanism used by a judicial, administrative or sports authority, to restrict or prohibit an individual or a group of persons, irrespective of the individual behaviour, from travelling to a country, a city and/or a sports venue.
The Recommendation recalls that all persons have the right to travel and attend football matches and other sports events, while respecting the laws and regulations, and to be treated in a safe, secure and welcoming manner, while acknowledging that bans have the potential to infringe human rights.
Moreover, the Recommendation calls States to prioritise individual accountability over collective restrictions, and to apply collective bans only in exceptional circumstances, where such a measure is necessary to maintain public order and safety.
Finally, the Recommendation invites States to establish transparent legal frameworks that define the criteria and procedures for imposing collective bans, ensuring due process, stakeholders’ consultation and the right to appeal.
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