The Football Association was in Ecuador this month to participate in a conference on Stadium Safety and Security, jointly organised by the Ecuadorian Football Federation (FEF), the Ecuadorian Ministry of Sport and the British Embassy in Quito.

Head of Stadium Safety and Security Chris Whalley and the Director of the UK Football Policing Unit Bryan Drew travelled to South America to deliver presentations at two conferences, as well as visit a number of stadia and assist two matches. They were accompanied by International Relations Executive Maria de León.
 
Both FEF and the British Embassy provided a warm welcome for the delegation, eager to make the most of their six-day visit to Ecuador’s two main cities, Quito and Guayaquil.

Media interest surrounding the trip was high as Ecuador has experienced a number of problems in recent years, linked to violence and accidents, inside and outside of the stadia. Chris and Bryan also took part in a number of press conferences and interviews, further increasing the media interest throughout the week.

A packed programme awaited, with the conference in Quito attended by Minister of Sport José Francisco Cevallos (ex-goalkeeper for the Ecuador national team), British Ambassador Patrick Mullee, President of FEF Luis Chiriboga and other senior FEF officials.

There were also representatives of the Ministry of Interior, members of the National Police, representatives of fan unions and various national and local media.

The aim of the conference was for Chris and Bryan to share the English experience of stadium safety and security, the history and the tragedies that have shaped English football’s current regulations.

It was followed by two stadium inspections, where Chris and Bryan were able to learn about the Ecuadorian experience and facilities. They had already witnessed this first hand when they attended a match in Quito between Independiente del Valle and Emelec from Guayaquil, before attending a match between Barcelona and Nacional, at the Monumental Stadium in Guayaquil. The pair were then able to frame some specific recommendations for the Ecuadorian authorities.

The visit ended with a round table attended by all of the relevant authorities, with the task of coming up with an action plan to improve stadium security, both in and outside the stadia.