UEFA has just published its final fair play ranking for the 2024-2025 season and it is not a question of counting the number of yellow and red cards obtained. The European body notes the behavior of supporters of all matches it organizes between national teams and between clubs. This ranking which mixes the three European Cups, the Nations League and the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup gives the most fair-playing countries and the worst audiences.
In the ranking of the worst behavior in Europe last season, we find Albania at the top (in 50th and last place), with Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Cyprus among the dunces. France is languishing in the middle of the table, in 29th place, far behind England, 6th, and behind Germany, 18th, and Spain, 21st. The best audiences are those from the Faroe Islands, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Lithuania and Luxembourg.
At each UEFA match, the audiences are rated from 1 to 10. “Spectators are required to encourage their team, by singing and shouting, and to create a positive atmosphere in a spirit of fair play. They must respect each other, as well as the players, officials and referees. Spectators must recognize the performance of the opposing team, even in the event of defeat, and must under no circumstances intimidate or frighten the opposing team, the refereeing body or the opposing supporters.explains UEFA.
UEFA likes standing ovations for an opposing player
To go into the details of scoring, we find for example in so-called “positive” behaviors: “applauding the opposing team”, “singing despite a disappointing score” or “giving a standing ovation for an opposing player”. In negative behavior, the non-exhaustive list displays: “invading the pitch”, “insulting singing”, “use or throwing of pyrotechnic devices”, “use of laser”, “violence inside or around the stadium”, “racism and discrimination”.
Moldova made the best progress in the fair play ranking and England topped the fair play rating alone. The three “winners” of the 24-25 season (with the Faroe Islands) receive 50,000 euros to give to an amateur or professional club for a project linked to fair play and respect.
