UEFA stadium categories are categories for football stadiums laid out in UEFA's Stadium Infrastructure Regulations.[1] Using these regulations, stadiums are rated as category one, two, three, or four (renamed from elite) in ascending ranking order. These categories replaced the previous method of ranking stadiums on one to five star scale in 2006.
UEFA does not publish lists of stadiums fulfilling the criteria for any of the categories defined in the UEFA Stadium Infrastructure Regulations.[1], but all assigned stadium categories are visible in UEFA's TIME platform, which is not open to the general public.
General
editIf a retractable roof is present, its use will be directed by consultation between the UEFA delegate and the main assigned referee.
Although the minimum stadium capacity for category four is 8,000, only one stadium with a capacity less than 60,000 has been selected to host a UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Euro finals and 30,000 for the UEFA Europa League and the UEFA Nations League finals, since these regulations were introduced in 2006.
After the 2007 Champions League final, UEFA President Michel Platini stated that he wanted European Cup finals to be held at stadiums with an average capacity of 70,000 to solve security issues.[2] The hosts for the finals between 2008 and 2024 (Luzhniki Stadium, Stadio Olimpico, Santiago Bernabéu, Wembley Stadium, Allianz Arena, Olympiastadion, San Siro, Millennium Stadium, Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Stade de France, Atatürk Stadium) all had capacities of at least 70,000 seats—with the exceptions of 2014 and 2019 finals (Estádio da Luz and Metropolitano Stadium) held with capacities of 65,000 seats. Two finals were played during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 and 2021 in stadiums reaching 50,000 seats (Estádio da Luz and Estádio do Dragão) with none or reduced attendances.
Differences between categories
edit| Criteria | Category 1 | Category 2 | Category 3 | Category 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Field of play | 100 to 105 m long, 64 to 68 m wide (109–115 yd × 70–74 yd). Pitch watering facilities must be available. | 105 m long, 68 m wide (115 yd × 74 yd). Automated under-soil pitch irrigation system and pitch heating and/or pitch cover (depending on the location and climate) must be available. | ||
| Goals and spare goal | — | No additional structural elements or physical support may be used inside the net or in its immediate surroundings other than bars fixing the goal net to the ground and goal net stanchions behind and outside the net. Portable goals must not be used. | ||
| Team dressing rooms | Recommended dimensions: 60 m2 (650 sq ft). Sanitary facilities:
Player and team official changing area:
Physiotherapy:
Storage:
|
Sanitary facilities:
Player changing area (recommended dimensions: 55 m2 (590 sq ft)):
Team official changing area (recommended dimensions: 20 m2 (220 sq ft)):
Physiotherapy (recommended dimensions: 15 m2 (160 sq ft))
Storage (recommended dimensions: 5 m2 (54 sq ft)):
| ||
| Minimum floodlighting | >350 lux or sufficient to allow the host broadcaster to ensure adequate broadcasting of the match | 800 lux Eh average horizontal illuminance with uniformity ratios of U1h >0.4 and U2h >0.6
350 lux Ev average vertical illuminance on each reference plane with uniformity ratios U1v >0.35 and U2v >0.45 An independent backup power supply must be available and able to provide at least the average horizontal illuminance of 350 lux of both matches played under floodlights and broadcast matches. |
1200 lux Eh average horizontal illuminance with uniformity ratios of U1h >0.4 and U2h >0.6
700 lux Ev average vertical illuminance on each reference plane with uniformity ratios of U1v >0.35 and U2v >0.45 An independent backup power supply must be available and able to provide at least the average horizontal illuminance of 350 lux for matches played under floodlights and 800 lux for broadcast matches. |
1400 lux Eh average horizontal illuminance with uniformity ratios of U1h >0.5 and U2h >0.7
1000 lux Ev average vertical illuminance on each reference plane with uniformity ratios of U1v >0.4 and U2v >0.5 An independent backup power supply must be available and able to provide at least the average horizontal illuminance of 350 lux for matches played under floodlights and 900 lux for broadcast matches no more than 15 minutes after the power failure. |
| Spectator standing allowed | Yes | No[3] | ||
| Minimum seated capacity | 200 | 1,500 | 4,500 | 8,000 |
| Turnstiles and electronic ticket control system | — | All public entrances must be equipped with turnstiles and an electronic ticket control system designed to prevent the use of counterfeit tickets and deliver real-time flow rates and entrance numbers to a central point with a view to preventing overcrowding in the stadium as a whole or in individual sectors. There must be atleast 1 turnstile for every 660 spectators. | ||
| Minimum total VIP seats | 50 | 75 | 100 | |
| VIP parking | 20 | 50 | 100 | 150 |
| Closed-circuit television system (CCTV) | — | Closed-circuit television system that uses colour surveillance cameras with pan, tilt and zoom functions and covers all stadium approaches and entrances, and all public areas within the stadium. Areas of the stadium interior not capable of being directly viewed from the control room must be covered by the closed-circuit television system. The cameras must be capable of recording moving images as well as still photographs. | ||
| Control room | — | Control room with an overview of the stadium interior, equipped with radio communications enabling communication between staff and officials responsible for safety, security and service at the stadium. | Category 2, plus also equipped with colour monitors that are connected to the closed-circuit television system and additional monitors that display live data from the electronic ticket control system. | |
| Minimum media working area | 10 working positions | 20 working positions | 30 working positions | |
| Photographers' working area | — | 15 working positions | 20 working positions | |
| Minimum media seating | 10, 5 with desks | 20, 10 with desks | 30, 15 with desks | 60, 30 with desks |
| Minimum space for main camera platform | 2 m × 2 m (6.6 ft × 6.6 ft) for 1 camera (only for matches that are being broadcast) | 4 m × 2 m (13.1 ft × 6.6 ft) for 2 cameras | 6 m × 2 m (19.7 ft × 6.6 ft) for at least 3 cameras | |
| Additional camera platforms | As for category 3 and 4 if the stadium is used in a competition or competition round for which the use of VAR is foreseen | Two 16 m camera platforms, located on the same side and at least at the same height as the main camera platform, each measuring at least 2 m × 2 m (6.6 ft × 6.6 ft) to accommodate one camera on the 16 m line | Category 3, plus one reverse-angle camera platform centrally located in the stand opposite the main camera, measuring at least 2 m × 2 m (6.6 ft × 6.6 ft) to accommodate at least one camera and two camera platforms located in the stands, one behind each goal, each measuring at least 2 m × 2 m (6.6 ft × 6.6 ft) to accommodate one camera at a height permitting an unobstructed view of the penalty spot from above the crossbar | |
| Minimum number of commentary positions | 1 (only for matches that are being broadcast) | 3 | 5 | 10 |
| Minimum number of TV studios | 1 studio, measuring 5 m × 5 m × 2.5 m (16.4 ft × 16.4 ft × 8.2 ft) | 2 studios, measuring the same as in category 1 and 2 | Category 3, plus one of them must be a pitch-view studio with an unobstructed view of the entire field of play. | |
| Minimum post-match interview positions | — | At least 4, each 4 by 3 metres (13.1 ft × 9.8 ft) | ||
| Minimum outside broadcast van area | 300 m2 (3,200 sq ft) | 400 m2 (4,300 sq ft) | 600 m2 (6,500 sq ft) | 1,000 m2 (11,000 sq ft) |
| Press conference room | If space allows it, a press conference room must be located within the stadium. It may be part of the media working area. | A press conference room must be available within the stadium. It may be part of the media working area and must be equipped with a top table and podium, a camera platform, a sound system (microphones, speakers and split box) and adequate lighting for broadcasting. The minimum number of seats is 20. | Category 2, but with a minimum number of 30 seats. | Category 2, but it may no longer be part of the media working area, the camera platform must be large enough to accommodate a minimum of 8 cameras, the split box must have a minimum of 16 outputs and the minimum number of seats is 50. |
| Mixed zone | — | To be covered and large enough for at least 50 media representatives. | ||
Category requirements by competition
edit| Competition | Requirements |
|---|---|
| UEFA Champions League | First and second qualifying round: category 2 Third qualifying round: category 3[4] From the play-offs onwards: category 4 |
| UEFA Europa League | First and second qualifying round: category 2 Third qualifying round and play-offs: category 3[5] From the league stage onwards: category 4 |
| UEFA Conference League | First and second qualifying round: category 2 Third qualifying round and play-offs: category 3[5] From the league stage onwards: category 4 |
| UEFA Youth League | Category 1[6] |
| UEFA Women's Champions League | Category 1[7][8] |
| UEFA Women's Europa Cup | Category 1 |
| UEFA European Championship | Category 4[9] |
| UEFA European Under-21 Championship | Qualifying competition: category 2 Final tournament: category 3 or 4 |
| UEFA European Under-19 Championship | Category 1 |
| UEFA European Under-17 Championship | Category 1 |
| UEFA Nations League | Category 4[10] |
| UEFA Women's Championship (including the UEFA Women's Nations League preceding it) | Nations League group stage and Women's European Qualifiers: category 2 Nations League final, third-place match and Women's Euro final tournament: category 4 |
| UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship | Category 1 |
| UEFA Women's Under-17 Championship | Category 1 |
| The UEFA Women's Nations League edition preceding the qualifying competition for the FIFA Women's World Cup and those qualifers themselves | Up to and including the two-legged third-place matches as well as the Women’s European Qualifiers: category 2 The final: category 4 |
| UEFA Regions' Cup | Category 1 |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "UEFA Stadium Infrastructure Regulations Edition 2018" (PDF). UEFA. 25 February 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 March 2018. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
- ^ "Update 1-Soccer-Platini wants Champions League final at weekend". Reuters. 30 August 2008. Archived from the original on March 11, 2008. Retrieved 10 November 2008.
- ^ UEFA allows safe standing facilities in stadiums used in Austria, Belgium, England, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Scotland and Spain.
- ^ UEFA may exceptionally approve a category 2 stadium for the third qualifying round provided that all public entrances are equipped with an electronic ticket control system designed to prevent the use of counterfeit tickets and deliver real-time flow rates and entrance numbers to a central point with a view to preventing overcrowding in the stadium as a whole or in individual sectors.
- ^ a b UEFA may exceptionally approve a category 2 stadium for the third qualifying round and play-offs provided that all public entrances are equipped with an electronic ticket control system designed to prevent the use of counterfeit tickets and deliver real-time flow rates and entrance numbers to a central point with a view to preventing overcrowding in the stadium as a whole or in individual sectors.
- ^ The UEFA administration may set higher requirements to ensure proper TV coverage if need be. Throughout the season, clubs have the option to request the use of an alternative stadium, including a stadium used for a UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and/or UEFA Conference League match with UEFA’s prior approval. Such requests must be made to the UEFA administration at least two weeks before the scheduled match.
- ^ For matches in the group stage onwards, additional requirements for certain facilities are required as indicated in the UEFA Women's Champions League Club Manual.
- ^ Starting from the 2025-26 season, it will be the following: category 1 for the qualifying phase; category 2 for the league phase and knockout phase play-offs; and category 3 from the quarter-finals onwards.
- ^ For the qualifying competition: exceptionally category 3 if no category 4 stadium is available.
- ^ For the league phase, play-offs and quarter-finals: exceptionally category 3 if no category 4 stadium is available.