Football Seminar Focused on Fan Engagement and Debate

There is always a risk that fan clubs can get stuck in inefficient workflows simply because of the mindset: “This is how we’ve always done it.” That’s why we greatly appreciate the opportunity for knowledge-sharing at these seminars.

Friday – Arrival and Initial Discussions

Friday was a quiet arrival day, with the evening spent at Brøndby Support’s clubhouse. Topics discussed included ticket prices and the challenge of long-distance away games on weekday evenings. At FCK, we have been relatively fortunate for many years compared to other Superliga clubs when it comes to midweek matches. However, with the new TV deal, that is likely to change, making this an issue we, as a fan club and fanbase, must increasingly address.

While it’s unrealistic to eliminate weekday matches in the short term, we want to advocate for greater consideration regarding travel distances. If we want to maintain a league that is attractive to active fans, then fan concerns must be taken into account when scheduling matches.

Saturday – Key Discussions and Presentations

Saturday began with a presentation by the Center for Ludomani (Center for Gambling Addiction). A prevention specialist spoke about how raising awareness and discussing gambling addiction among sports enthusiasts can help break the stigma, encouraging more people to talk openly about the problem. Andreas, a recovering gambling addict, bravely shared his personal story and the serious consequences gambling addiction has had on his life.

Last summer, we at FCKFC participated in the campaign “The Fight Against Gambling Addiction” alongside other fan clubs. More details about this initiative can be found on DFF’s website. In 2025, our board will consider how we can further raise awareness about gambling addiction and contribute to a positive change.

Seminar Breakout Sessions

The seminar then split into different tracks:

1. Fan Club Development & Engagement
   • This track focused on exchanging experiences on how fan clubs can remain relevant and visible to members.
   • Discussions included how to attract more members, best practices for starting a fan club, setting up a U18 or youth section, and retaining volunteers.
   • We from FCKFC shared our experiences with De Unge Løver (The Young Lions), our U18 initiatives, and other groups, as well as how our dedicated volunteers help bring the board’s visions and ambitions to life.
2. Club Ownership & Fan Influence
   • The first session examined club ownership structures, with contributions from Tony Ernst of Malmö FF, representatives from Svenske Supporterunionen (SVSU) and Fan Supporters Europe (FSE), as well as Sune Blom, a former fan representative on Brøndby’s board.
   • The discussion unfortunately concluded that once a football club is privately owned, reversing this is nearly impossible without compromising sporting ambitions.
3. Legalization of Pyrotechnics
   • Andreas Kjellevold from the Norwegian Supporters’ Alliance shared Norway’s experiences with legalizing pyrotechnics under controlled conditions.
   • Kim Erik Hansen from Copenhagen Vestegns Police outlined the legal and practical challenges of implementing a similar solution in Denmark, such as the extensive legal adjustments required for stadium use.
   • Claus Thomsen from the Divisional Association welcomed the discussion but acknowledged that it would be a long and complex process if pursued.
4. Managing High-Risk Matches
   • This session focused on fan engagement and communication in the context of high-risk matches, particularly the collaboration between FCKFC, Brøndby Support, clubs, and authorities before and after derby matches.
   • Kim Erik Hansen provided insights into the police’s role, supplemented by input from Katinka Riess and Sarah Agerklint.
   • Given the increasing number of matches categorized as high-risk, it is essential to disseminate the knowledge gained from Copenhagen derbies.
   • One key takeaway was the need for consistency in communication, ensuring that discussions remain constructive and that stakeholders maintain the agreed tone in media statements.

Closing Sessions & Awards

The day concluded with a presentation by Claus Thomsen, who provided an update on the implementation of facial recognition technology in the Superliga and the Divisional Association’s work on matchday productions.

During the evening’s annual award show:

• Tina Thorman, an FCKFC volunteer and capo for the women’s team, won the “Tribune Moment of the Year” award. Huge congratulations to Tina for creating a unique role as a capo, incorporating both dance and children's participation in fan chants.
• Gastón Szerman won the “Atmospheric Photo of the Year” award for capturing an image at the women’s team’s first home match, showing a young entrance escort admiring captain Catrine Gryholt—a photo that perfectly encapsulates the importance of supporting and developing women’s football at F.C. Copenhagen.

Final Thoughts

We extend our thanks to DFF for organizing a successful seminar. Even as the country’s largest fan club, weekends like this are invaluable to us, as we continue to learn through experience-sharing and inspiration from other fan clubs. Our constant goal is improvement—to offer our members the best possible experience.