Fan representative has no security concerns ahead of European finals

Martin Endemann from the Football Supporters Europe (FSE) group sees no security concerns around the upcoming three continental finals while also saying that fans from participating teams should be given more tickets.

Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen face Italy's Atalanta in Wednesday's Europa League final in Dublin, the Conference League final is May 29 in Athens between Olympiacos from neighbouring Piraeus and Italy's Fiorentina, and the Champions League final on June 1 at Wembley between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund.

Endemann told dpa that trouble can never be fully ruled out but looking at the continental body added his belief "that the homework has been done by the UEFA side."

Wembley was the site of fan trouble around the European championship final between England and Italy in 2021.

A year later more than 230 people were injured as French police fired teargas and pepper spray at fans, who were later also subject to attacks from local gangs, at the Champions League final between Real and Liverpool at the Stade de France, with many fans denied entry despite having tickets.

UEFA and French police, who had initially blamed Liverpool fans with fake tickets for the disturbances which also led to a delayed kick-off, were eventually blamed in an independent report commissioned by UEFA.

"I don't see anything like the 2021 European Championship final or the Champions League final in Paris happening again. A lot of work was done there, so we're in good spirits," Endemann said.

He added that the FSE remains critical about the distribution of tickets for fans of the respective teams.

In Dublin. Leverkusen and Atalanta get 12,000 each from the 48,000 overall, and Real and Dortmund 25,000 each from 86,600 at Wembley.

Endemann said the situation is "a little more fan friendly" in Athens and that UEFA has pledged to change the allocations in the future.

"It remains our aim that at least 66% of the tickets go to the two finalists," Endemann said.