England fans are expressing their “serious concerns” about transport delays at Euro 2024. Following England’s win over Serbia, many supporters encountered issues getting to and from the Arena AufSchalke in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. Some fans missed connecting trains and had to walk long distances to reach their destination. This situation has been deemed “completely unacceptable” by Thomas Concannon, spokesperson for the Football Supporters’ Association (FSA) England fans’ embassy. The FSA had received assurances that the transport system would be able to handle the influx of England fans, but these promises were not fulfilled.
Local police acknowledged the significant traffic caused by the large number of supporters in the area and thanked fans for their behavior. However, the lack of proper organization and infrastructure led to chaos outside the stadium. BBC Sport reporter Holly Bacon, who was present as a fan, described the scene as one of confusion and highlighted issues such as delayed trains, poor lighting, and a lack of signage or directions. The journey back to the city of Mulheim took her two and a half hours, and other supporters arrived home as late as 4-5 am after missing connections. Some fans had to spend money on taxis due to the inability to return to Wuppertal.
The overcrowding on trains and platforms created a dangerous situation, according to eyewitness accounts. Fans attempted to find space on subsequent trains but were unsuccessful, leading them to push further down the line. Andy, a supporter who traveled with his son, criticized the poor management and lack of stewarding at the train stations. The situation worsened at the final whistle when staff started packing people onto the trains with little regard for safety.
England is scheduled to play Denmark in Frankfurt on Thursday and Slovenia in Cologne the following Tuesday. The FSA plans to communicate with local organizers once again in hopes of resolving these issues for future matches. National rail operator Deutsche Bahn claims to have increased train capacity in collaboration with local operators. However, it remains to be seen if these measures will effectively address the transportation problems faced by England fans.
In addition to the transport concerns, altercations between England and Serbia fans occurred prior to the game, leading to the arrest of a British national. Videos on social media showed violent clashes involving the throwing of objects. Riot police had to intervene, and seven individuals from Serbia were also arrested.
These incidents highlight the need for better organization and security measures at major sporting events. The safety and comfort of fans should be a top priority to ensure an enjoyable experience for everyone involved. The FSA’s efforts to address these issues and the increased train capacity implemented by Deutsche Bahn are steps in the right direction, but further improvements are necessary to prevent similar situations from occurring in the future.