FSE meets European Commission Sport Unit to push fan priorities

Football Supporters Europe (FSE) held talks with representatives from the European Commission’s Sport Unit in February as it seeks to keep supporter issues on the EU agenda in a year it expects key policy developments.FSE said the meeting covered a range of topics it believes are increasingly shaping the matchday and media experience for fans across Europe, including dynamic ticket pricing, proposals to stage domestic league matches abroad and the rise of multi-club ownership (MCO) models.A central theme was governance. FSE argued that football needs stronger minimum standards for fan engagement at both club and governing body level, with meaningful stakeholder representation built into decision-making rather than treated as optional consultation.The organisation also put cultural and community protections on the table, stressing that club heritage should be safeguarded. That includes names, colours and stadiums, with FSE reiterating its view that clubs are community assets rather than purely commercial properties.Financial sustainability and solidarity were also raised, with FSE highlighting concern about the widening financial gap within European football and the knock-on effects for competitive balance and investment further down the pyramid. The group said it wants greater transparency and oversight around ownership structures, particularly as MCO groups expand their footprints across multiple leagues and competitions.On affordability, FSE pointed to rising matchday costs and the spread of dynamic ticket pricing, arguing that football must remain accessible regardless of income. It also flagged wider structural pressures on the domestic game, including the expanding international calendar, and called for protections that preserve national competitions and the principles of sporting merit.FSE described the exchange as constructive and said the overlap in priorities underlined the value of continued dialogue between supporters and EU institutions as debates continue around the future shape of European sport.