The Confédération Africaine de Football will bring together 54 National Safety and Security Officers from all over Africa for a CAF National Security and Security Officers Symposium with the aim of promoting a culture of safe stadiums across the continent.
The three-day gathering will take place between 29 – 31 October 2024 in Cairo, Egypt.
The symposium will be spearheaded by CAF’s Head of the Safety and Security, Dr Christian Emeruwa who has emphasised the need to ensure the safety of stadiums in order to protect players, officials, supporters and VVIPs.
“The Colloquium of National Safety and Security Officers aims to equip all participants with modern perspectives on the management and execution of football matches within their associations. The initial training of national SSO by CAF took place in November 2019, and since then, we have collaborated with national safety and security officers to stimulate their skills across the continent,” he recalled.
“We believe that the time is right to convene them again in Cairo for an intensive three-day workshop covering the essential aspects of the successful organisation of football matches in their respective countries. Representatives of UEFA, FIFA, NFIP and the European Group of Football Police will join us. Together, we will be able to share our experiences and best practises in order to strengthen the standards we aim to achieve throughout Africa and especially in each country,” added Dr. Emeruwa.
The symposium is intended to explore different aspects of safety and security during football events in Africa. Renowned speakers will share their expertise and perspectives on safety in the field of football. Participants include Helmut Spahn, Director of Safety, Security and Access to FIFA, and Dr. Adrian Dinca, President of the European Group of Football Police and expert at the National Football Information Point (NFIP).
In addition, other international experts, from UEFA and the German Football Federation (DFB), will contribute to the sessions with their views on safety in football.
The program of these three days will cover the following topics, illustrated by case studies and concrete examples:
Theory and knowledge sharing:
- Security challenges in Africa
- CAF Safety Regulations
- Role of the NSSO
Theory and collaboration:
- Accreditation and access control
- Ticketing and maximum capacity
- Preparation of missions and site inspections
Practice and application:
- Access to the stadium and barrier systems
- Access Accessory Placement Exercise
- Barrier Design and Queue Management Exercise
Importance of safety in football events
The safety of stadiums is essential for the development of the sport in Africa, which attracts large and potentially dangerous crowds. It is crucial that officers are well trained in the latest security practises.
Such training strengthens the skills of professionals and promotes collaboration between nations, contributing to a solid culture of security on the continent.
The symposium will bring together experts and practitioners to improve safety in stadiums and strengthen inter-African relations. After three days of knowledge exchange, participants will have gained valuable knowledge to introduce effective measures at future sporting events in their respective countries.
CAF