The Centre for Access to Football in Europe (CAFE) team recently travelled to Sweden to meet with representatives of Malmö FF and visit the club’s Eleda Stadium.

Since 2009, CAFE has established itself as Europe’s leading voice in advising on stadium accessibility and the experiences of disabled football fans. CAFE works with stakeholders across the game to improve physical access, implement accessible services and empower disabled fans in creating pan-disability groups and acting as self-advocates.

CAFE was pleased to be invited to assess accessibility at the Eleda Stadium, and to understand more about the relationship that Malmö FF has with its disabled fans.

The CAFE team was also present to watch the hosts face AIK Fotboll in an Allsvenskan match, with the hosts winning the game 3-1 and extending their lead at the top of the table.

During the visit, CAFE carried out a stadium access appraisal to understand the current level of accessibility. Through CAFE’s works, access at over 100 stadiums has been assessed.

As part of the programme, CAFE will also produce a detailed report to share with the club. The report will cover the current situation at the stadium, and make a series of recommendations on how improvements could be made to meet and exceed European standards, as set out in ‘Access for All’ – the UEFA and CAFE Good Practice Guide to Creating an Accessible Stadium and Matchday Experience.

Speaking after the visit, CAFE Interim Chief Executive Officer Olivier Jarosz said, “We are truly grateful for the exceptional hospitality and experience provided by Malmö FF. Their unwavering dedication to inclusivity and excellence resonated with our team during our recent meeting and stadium assessment. The exchange with the club CEO Niclas Carlnén also highlighted that, for the club, it is essential to consider accessibility beyond just words”.

“It was fantastic to also connect with FIFH Malmö, the number one Parasport club in Europe. FIFH Malmö is such a remarkable organisation, and we look forward to fostering a long-lasting relationship built on shared values", added Olivier.

CAFE is also excited to develop its cooperation with Malmö FF and will be supporting the club in implementing further accessible solutions inside the stadium.

Clubs, venues, leagues and national associations interested in commissioning a CAFE stadium access appraisal are invited to email CAFE at [email protected], or call +44 (0)203 355 9867.

You can find out more about CAFE and its works by visiting the CAFE website.

Published 11/05/2023