Think Football 2022: "The role of ultras in clubs" - 14:15 CET, at the FFF headquarters (04/10/2022)
"At the level of each professional club, there must be the involvement of the approved supporters' associations in the management of the clubs to define the orientations of these clubs and to define together, for example, the security conditions in stadiums as well as in relation to travel," said Marie-George Buffet, former French Minister for Sports (within Lionel Jospin's government, from 04/06/1997 to 06/05/2002), to News Tank Football on 16/09/2022.
The co-rapporteur of the joint inquiry on stadium bans and supporterism at the Assemblée Nationale (report delivered on 22/05/2020) will take part in the debate on "the role of ultras in clubs" on Tuesday 04/10/2022 at 14:15 CET on the occasion of Think Football 2022, whose afternoon will be dedicated to the development of French football, at the FFF headquarters in Paris (FRA). The event will be held entirely in French.
Marie-George Buffet will be accompanied by Pierre Barthélemy, lawyer at Jones Day and volunteer defender of the French National Supporters' Association, and by Xavier Pierrot, deputy general manager in charge of stadium and arena at Olympique Lyonnais (Ligue 1 Uber Eats). This exchange will be an opportunity to discuss the situation of ultras in France, their relation with the clubs, security in stadiums as well as travel for supporters.
"The example of Paris Saint-Germain (Ligue 1 Uber Eats) has shown that sporting success and the presence of stars are not enough to make a club successful. It was the players and the traditional fans who expressly asked the club's management for the return of the ultras and an end to the Leproux Plan by interrupting president Nasser Al-Khelaïfi's speech at the Ligue 1 trophy presentation in spring 2016. The question is not so much whether ultras are part of the future of French professional football, but rather how to bring together all types of supporters in the stands, without ever neglecting safety or the feeling of safety that should be present in the mind of each supporter," said Pierre Barthélémy.
"The need to communicate and exchange in order to get along and understand each other has never been so important in our stadiums. This permanent dialogue may not be the solution to everything, but it remains one of the foundations for what we build together over the course of the seasons," said Xavier Pierrot.
"Important to maintain a balance that guarantees fundamental freedoms and public peace in and around stadiums" (M-G. Buffet)
• "As co-rapporteur of the inquiry on stadium bans and supporterism with Sacha Houlié (MP) at the National Assembly, we were motivated by the idea that supporters should be considered as full citizens and that they should not be victims of exceptional measures.
• But it was also important to maintain a balance that would guarantee fundamental freedoms and public peace in and around stadiums.
• We have made a series of proposals, particularly concerning the role of fans in stadium management. I think that the creation of supporters' associations should be encouraged and given national visibility.
• It is also necessary that, at the level of each professional club, there should be the involvement of approved supporters' associations in the management of the clubs to define the orientations of these clubs and to define together, for example, the security conditions in stadiums as well as in relation to travel."
Marie-George Buffet, 16/09/2022
To register for Think Football 2022 (limited number of places available), click here!
Think Football 2022: programme
08:30: Café Network
- Reception: coffee, pastries and networking!
09:00: introductory remarks and words from our ambassador
PART 1 - a game-changing World Cup!
09:30 - Qatar 2022: what will be its legacy?
09:50 - Competition formats for making football more attractive
- Olivier Létang, president of LOSC Lille (Ligue 1 Uber Eats
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Union des Acteurs du Football (Union of Football Participants). This association brings together the professional unions and associations representing all involved in French football.
) - Jérôme Perlemuter, general secretary, World Leagues Forum
- Sylvain Kastendeuch, co-president of the UNFP
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Union des Acteurs du Football (Union of Football Participants). This association brings together the professional unions and associations representing all involved in French football.
- David Terrier, vice-president of the UNFP
- Pierre Ferracci, president of Paris FC
Union des Acteurs du Football (Union of Football Participants). This association brings together the professional unions and associations representing all involved in French football.
10:40 - Networking
- Coffee break
11:00 - A World Cup at the end of the year, what does this mean for broadcasters?
- Julien Millereux, director of sports at TF1
11:45 - Qatar 2022, challenges and partner activations
- Damien Neymarc, marketing manager France, Hisense
- Jean-Manuel Caparros, head of communication & digital, Volkswagen France
- Arnaud Gouénard, head of football sponsorships, Uber Eats France
12:30 - TikTok, a strategic platform serving fan communities and players in the sports economy
- Emile Follorou, content partnerships manager sports France & Belgium, TikTok
12:50 - Cocktail reception
- A welcome break after a content-heavy morning! The opportunity to update your network, to exchange with friends and make new acquaintances.
PART 2 - Developments for French football
14:15 - The role of ultras in clubs
- Pierre Barthélémy, associate lawyer in public business law, Jones Day
- Xavier Pierrot, general manager in charge of the stadium and arena, Olympique Lyonnais (OL Groupe)
- Marie-George Buffet, former French Minister of Sports and former Member of Parliament, co-rapporteur of the joint inquiry on stadium bans and supporterism at the National Assembly
14:50 - What is the role of football unions?
- Alain Belsoeur, president of the UAF
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Union des Acteurs du Football (Union of Football Participants). This association brings together the professional unions and associations representing all involved in French football.
(Union des Acteurs du Football) - Philippe Piat, co-president of the UNFP
- Raymond Domenech, president of UNECATEF
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Union des Acteurs du Football (Union of Football Participants). This association brings together the professional unions and associations representing all involved in French football.
- Olivier Lamarre, president of SAFE
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Union des Acteurs du Football (Union of Football Participants). This association brings together the professional unions and associations representing all involved in French football.
and member of LFP's board of directors
15:25 - How can we sustainably boost women's football?
- Aline Riera, treasurer general of the FFF and consultant on Canal+
- Fabien Safanjon, vice-president of the UNFP
- Eugénie Le Sommer, secretary general of the UNFP and professional player
- Gilles Galinier, communications director at Arkema
16:10 - Benefits and impact of the LFP's commercial company
- Nicolas Blanc, president of Sport Value
- Olivier Létang, president of LOSC Lille
16:45 - Conclusion and perspectives