Fans who feel “unsafe” or “threatened” during England’s high-stakes Euro 2024 opener against Serbia have been advised to say “Panama” to police or tournament staff.
This unusual safe word “Wo geht’s nach [Which way to] Panama?” or simply “Panama” has been adopted by competition organizers in Gelsenkirchen. Warnings indicate that Sunday’s fixture could witness repeat rioting which Three Lions have faced at past European Championships.
Staff hearing the word “Panama” are instructed to “immediately offer the possibility of place to retreat.” This is for the person in distress.
They may activate “Panama team” described as “multilingual multi-professional team trained in crisis intervention, non-violent communication and de-escalation.”
A similar protocol is already used at certain Bundesliga matches and large music festivals in Germany. However fans may question its effectiveness for Sunday’s England-Serbia game given potential for major fan disorder.
Police have warned the match could see a repeat of rioting which has marred England’s most recent Euros campaigns notably, their 2016 opener against Russia and the final of last tournament. Officers expect up to 500 violence-seeking Serbian hooligans to travel to Germany for tournament and this compounds fears of brutal ambush.
England’s High-Risk Match with Alcohol Restrictions
Sunday’s fixture is branded most “high risk” of this summer’s tournament. The Football Association failed to get booze ban imposed close to venue. The game itself is currently the only fixture where low-alcohol beer will be served.
Wilhelm Wessels is Euro 2024 project manager for Gelsenkirchen. He emphasized the importance of the safe word system. He stated “All of the city’s law enforcement partners are familiar with the Panama rules. They can react accordingly.”
Meanwhile, police have suggested it would be better for fans to smoke cannabis rather than drink alcohol. Stephan Knipp a spokesman for Gelsenkirchen police, told The Sun.
“If we see a group of people drinking alcohol and looking a bit aggressive and another group smoking cannabis. Of course we’ll look at the group drinking alcohol.”
