The upcoming Champions League match between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid at Wembley Stadium will have the largest stewarding deployment in the stadium’s history. Over 2,500 stewards will be present to ensure the safety and security of all attendees. This comes after an independent review by Baroness Casey in 2021 found more than 20 “near-misses” that could have resulted in serious injury or death as ticketless fans tried to enter the stadium illegally during England’s Euro 2020 final defeat by Italy.
The Football Association (FA) has invested over £5m towards improving safety and infrastructure at Wembley Stadium to prevent a repeat of these chaotic scenes. The FA’s director of tournaments and events, Chris Bryant, noted that stewarding supply had improved since the low point seen during the Euro final, following the Covid pandemic. However, there have been similar incidents at the 2022 and 2023 Champions League finals in Paris and Istanbul, raising concerns about fan safety and security.
To ensure a trouble-free event, a “robust and comprehensive testing plan” will be implemented for digital ticketing and checks at Saturday’s final. Additional security measures, such as increased cameras, lock systems, and body-cams for stewards, have been put in place to enhance security both inside the stadium and in the surrounding areas. Entrance to Wembley will be allowed four hours before kick-off instead of two to accommodate the flow of supporters to and from the ground. Transport for London will provide extra services to help with this.
The FA and local authorities are working together to ensure the safety and security of all attendees at the Champions League final. Lessons have been learned from past events, including those held during the Covid pandemic, which had led to disruptions in ticketing processes and entrance control systems. With these improvements in place, fans can now focus on enjoying what is sure to be an exciting match between two of Europe’s top teams.
