Football Supporters Europe (FSE), European Football Clubs (EFC), and UEFA welcomed supporter liaison officers (SLOs) to the third annual UEFA club competitiIons SLO workshop, hosted by AFC Ajax in Amsterdam on 2–3 February 2026.
The workshop reflects the shared commitment of all three organisations to strengthen collaboration, encourage the exchange of knowledge and best practices, and enhance the matchday experience for supporters through continued investment in the SLO role, creating deeper links between clubs and their fans. The two-day event welcomed more than 100 participants representing clubs competing in the 2025/26 UEFA men’s club competitions.
“The third edition of the UCC SLO Workshop highlights the growing strength of collaboration between FSE, UEFA, and EFC in this area,” said FSE Executive Director, Ronan Evain.
“Now established as an annual milestone for supporter liaison officers, it plays a central role in the European football calendar. By exchanging best practice, experience, and insight, SLOs help raise the standard of matchday experiences for supporters across Europe.”
“SLOs play a crucial role in connecting clubs with their supporters, ensuring a safe and engaging matchday experience,” said EFC Director of Football, Diederik Dewaele.
“Through workshops like this, EFC supports clubs by promoting collaboration, sharing practical experience, and working closely with UEFA and FSE to strengthen the SLO network across European football.”
“Supporter Liaison Officers play a vital role in helping to sustain a positive relationship between clubs and fans, especially on matchdays, where a safe and enjoyable environment for everybody is paramount,” said UEFA Head of Stakeholder Affairs, Javier Morente Garcia.
“This workshop is therefore an important opportunity to provide SLOs with practical guidance, create a strong community and build on the positive collaboration between UEFA, EFC, and FSE, which ensures the welfare of supporters remains a priority for European football.”
A crucial part of a smooth matchday process
Creating a safe and smooth matchday experience for everyone – supporters, players, officials, and staff – is crucial to the organisation of a successful match, with SLOs acting as a vital part of the system.
During the workshop, attendees had the opportunity to learn from best-practice examples, including host club Ajax’s matchday operations, which highlighted how different departments coordinate their work ahead of a game. This was followed by a comprehensive stadium tour, giving participants the opportunity to review the facilities and services provided to visiting supporters.
“This is my first time here and there are so many people with so much great experience that I can talk to and gain information from,” said BK Häcken representative Christopher Berg. “The panel discussions have been really good, showing the importance of dialogue, and these sessions were very helpful.”
The second day featured a comprehensive workshop focused on club-fan dialogue, including examples from formal league frameworks to excellent club-led initiatives. The message was the same; structured communication helps build trust, prevents conflict, and ensures shared responsibility, with the SLO perfectly placed to facilitate this dialogue between the club and its fans.
Planning ahead and looking back
Two parallel sessions rounded off the day – the first bringing together SLOs from clubs that have advanced to the knockout phase of this season’s European competitions to meet their counterparts and discuss upcoming match preparations.
“It’s really good to meet the opposition clubs,” said Arsenal’s Mark Brindle. “Every country has a different way of doing things, so that connection with your opposite number is absolutely vital. It means you know what’s going to happen around a match and you can explain the differences in football culture – it’s all about communication.”
Eliminated clubs took part in a comprehensive debrief session, where they reflected on organisational challenges they encountered during the league phase and explored how issues might have been anticipated.
Other focus areas during the workshop included the need for a service-oriented approach to operations, including body searches at stadiums, the importance of clarity and consistency in terminology, and the presence of fan materials inside stadiums.
“It’s important for UEFA, EFC, and FSE to be doing this – it’s important to have everyone together to share ideas,” concluded Aberdeen FC’s Lynne Fiske. “Although the SLO role has been around for a long time, you learn something every day and can always pick something up from others. The role is so important for positive operations, because you’re there to represent both the supporters and the club, and it allows information to be shared a lot more smoothly.”
Make our voice even stronger. Join FSE today.