England Fans Plan Fan-Friendly Lisbon

This article was generously provided to ClubFootball by the British Council, which operates in China as the Cultural and Education Section of the British Embassy.

Described by the Portuguese press as on a mission to 'civilise European football' four members of the independent LondonEnglandFans group visited Lisbon last week to develop their preparations for a fan-friendly Euro 2004 in the city. Mark Perryman reports.
 
'The end of civilisation as we know it' is the more usual explanation of what England and football coming to town means, so the somewhat bizarre notion that fans would want to 'civilise' is maybe not such a huge case of lost in translation. As fans though, we prefer to think of ourselves in a slightly different diplomatic role, as ambassadors. This was very much what our preparations were concentrating on developing: establishing spaces, events, dialogues where fans can fulfil this role.
 
Reckless? Do-gooders? Out of touch? Hardly, rather these are ideas and initiatives that have come from committed fans who are fed up with the appalling reputation that they feel saddled with - often unfairly - and who have experienced the consequences of that reputation - an unfriendly, often hostile reception.
 
The Lisbon events are founded on three simple concepts: That football is a culture we share with our hosts. That dialogue and conversation are what we want to encourage, rather than an obsession (on security grounds but with deep cultural consequences) with separation. And that we must work with the media as allies to develop this theme of fan-friendliness.
 
To this end the Lisbon activities will include a 'Lisbon welcomes England, England Welcomes Lisbon' forum, a children's painting afternoon involving Portuguese and English children, a 'United Colours of Europe' party involving the fans and music of all sixteen competing nations, and a school visit involving fans in English language classes.
 
This is a hugely ambitious programme, nothing quite like it has ever been attempted at a major international football tournament. But if the response received on the 3-day preparatory visit is anything to go by, then Lisbon is ready to welcome this fan-friendship with open arms.

Mark Perryman, April 2004