Fan Disorder in Europe: A Growing Crisis?

What’s Going On With Fan Disorder at European Games?

Fan trouble is once again making headlines in European football. The latest flashpoint occurred at Villa Park, where Young Boys fans clashed with police, ripped seats, and threw objects—including cups that left Aston Villa’s Donyell Malen bleeding after his goal in a 2-1 win.

Recap: What Happened at Villa Park?

In their Europa League clash, Young Boys fans reignited their troubling history of misbehaviour. Just as Malen celebrated his opener, cups rained down from the away section, cutting his head. After his second goal, more missiles were thrown, while seats were torn and police clashed with supporters.

• Two arrests were made on matchday (affray & assaulting a police officer)

• Four more were detained the following day

• The Swiss club will be required to pay for repairs to Villa Park

• UEFA charges are expected, but the outcome is uncertain

Not an Isolated Incident — UEFA’s Troubling Data

UEFA doesn’t publish full historical records, but 116 suspended stadium bans are currently active. These include:

• 67 cases of fireworks

• 31 incidents of racist/discriminatory behaviour

• 25 object-throwing offences

• 12 crowd disturbances

• 7 cases of stadium damage

16 bans have already been triggered and are awaiting enforcement.

Young Boys: Repeat Offenders Out of Probation

The incident is particularly jarring because Young Boys had just come off a two-year UEFA probation. That ban was imposed after their fans caused trouble at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium in 2023.

• In Feb 2024, a suspended stadium closure was activated due to fireworks

• UEFA’s leniency allowed them to keep fan privileges until the Villa incident

Young Boys’ latest offence could see:

• An away fan ban

• Another probation period

• A suspended or active stadium closure

Fan Disorder Trends Since COVID-19

There has been a notable spike in football-related disorder post-COVID:

• Arrests in England and Wales hit a 9-year high in 2023

• 2024-25 season has already seen an 18% rise in incidents

• UEFA has 132 disciplinary cases with no Premier League clubs involved

Despite this, English fans are still viewed with suspicion abroad, largely due to legacy issues like:

• The 2023 Champions League final in Paris (Liverpool fans poorly treated)

• Newcastle fans allegedly assaulted by Marseille police

Double Standards? Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Young Boys

Questions have emerged regarding disparities in treatment. Maccabi Tel Aviv fans were banned from visiting Villa Park earlier this season due to high risk and local tensions related to the Israel-Gaza conflict.

Despite Young Boys’ poor track record, they were allowed to travel and caused trouble again.

Birmingham Council refused to explain why one club was banned and not the other, citing case-by-case evaluation by the Safety Advisory Group (SAG).

Broader UEFA Issues: Small Fines, Big Problems

UEFA’s disciplinary actions are often criticised as too soft:

• Racist abuse by Qarabag fans earned just a €5,000 fine

• Atletico Madrid fans made monkey noises and Nazi salutes vs Arsenal but received only:

  • €30,000 fine

  • Suspended 1-match away fan ticket ban

Contrast this with the Villa Park chaos — Guehi’s cut head, object throwing, vandalism — and it’s clear that consistency in punishment is lacking.

Final Whistle: Can UEFA Control the Slide?

The rise in fan disorder paints a worrying picture across European football. While some clubs are deterred by probation, others seem undeterred by light fines or lax enforcement.

The spotlight is now on:

• Whether Young Boys will be banned from future away matches

• Whether UEFA will tighten penalties for repeat offences

• And whether clubs can take more responsibility for their supporters