Stunts and photographs posted online are encouraging poor behaviour from fans, from throwing cups at players to trying to take selfies with them on the pitch.
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00:00It's not just music and cheers that fans are bringing to Euro 2024 in Germany.
00:08Some are also the source of security headaches for the tournament, from throwing cups at
00:13players to trying to take selfies with them on the field.
00:19This is one of the most high-profile stunts.
00:22A YouTuber who got dressed up as the tournament mascot and snuck onto the field.
00:27The video has racked up nearly 3 million views.
00:31Those who are helping coordinate security between fans and officials say there's a
00:35reason we may see more of such incidents.
00:39One new challenge we'll probably see, or at least a growing trend, is people jumping on
00:43the pitch to approach their idol or to take selfies with them.
00:47That's an old tradition in football, unfortunately, but it's a new increase in this sort of celebratory
00:53behavior because people want to take a picture, to post content on social media.
00:57German police told Euronews that security for the stadiums is handled by UEFA.
01:02UEFA declined Euronews' interview request.
01:05In an earlier statement, it said it would be adding safety measures, but said it wouldn't
01:09provide details for security reasons.
01:13Experts say that security personnel need to be better trained.
01:16As well, there needs to be more attention paid to the accreditation process.
01:20They say that there's risks of more serious incidents happening in the future.
01:25An expert who worked on stadium security for the 2006 World Cup in Germany said that
01:30entrances and exits are of particular concern.
01:33The problem is that these gates can't be easily opened, so that in a mass panic, if
01:39not hundreds or even thousands of people want to flee, there would certainly be difficulties
01:45with injuries, possibly deaths.
01:48That would have to be considered, and my assessment is that in the last 18 years almost nothing
01:53has happened.
01:55Experts caution it's impossible to control everyone's behavior.
02:00That's especially the case now that fences separating the fans and the field are no longer
02:04in use.
02:05It's more comfort for the fans, you're closer to the pitch, you can enjoy the game better.
02:09But that's obviously creating new security challenges.
02:12It's harder to protect players.
02:14So it's important for fans there, for us to be able to self-police ourselves, to understand
02:19that if we want to keep this comfort when we're in the stadium, we need to respect the
02:26pitch.
02:27The tournament runs until Sunday, July 14th, with the final game in Berlin.