{"id":573419,"date":"2026-08-03T14:08:18","date_gmt":"2026-08-03T14:08:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/573419\/"},"modified":"2026-08-03T14:08:18","modified_gmt":"2026-08-03T14:08:18","slug":"they-are-terrified-como-spark-row-with-fans-over-controversial-new-stadium-policy-como","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/573419\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018They are terrified\u2019: Como spark row with fans over controversial new stadium policy | Como"},"content":{"rendered":"

The surprise package of last season\u2019s Serie A, Como, who qualified for the Champions League for the first time in the club\u2019s history<\/a>, will revoke season tickets from fans who fail to attend four home matches, under a series of new rules that have sparked a row among supporters.<\/p>\n

In a statement issued on Monday<\/a> the club, coached by the former Arsenal midfielder Cesc F\u00e0bregas<\/a>, said its supporters \u201cwho miss more than three home matches without what it considers a valid reason risk having their season tickets revoked\u201d. Another new rule bans fans from wearing the opposing team\u2019s shirts or scarves anywhere in the stadium except the away section.<\/p>\n

\u201cDemand for tickets far exceeds supply and, for that reason, I asked the club to find ways to ensure tickets for the [Giuseppe Sinigaglia stadium] end up in the hands of genuine Como supporters \u2013 those who want to be there to back the team,\u201d the chairman Mirwan Suwarso wrote in a lengthy statement on Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere have been too many occasions when away fans have celebrated inside our home sections, while Como<\/a> supporters, who would have proudly backed the team, were unable to get a ticket.\u201d<\/p>\n

On the ban on wearing rival teams\u2019 shirts, scarves and other symbols outside the away end, the club said the measure was introduced for safety reasons.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur aim,\u201d Suwarso said, \u201cis to make the Sinigaglia the true home of our fans and a fortress for our team. We want to ensure the Sinigaglia remains a place where grandparents feel comfortable bringing their grandchildren, where families can enjoy football together, and where passion never crosses the line into disrespect.\u201d<\/p>\n

The new rules have inevitably sparked a row among supporters<\/a>. On social media, many fans have criticised the measures as overly harsh, arguing that work commitments, health issues or family responsibilities can prevent people from attending matches without making them any less loyal to the club.<\/p>\n

La Provincia, Como\u2019s local newspaper, said its newsroom had received dozens of calls and emails from concerned supporters. \u201cSome worried about health problems or being unable to attend because of bad weather, as well as people who frequently travel for work,\u201d the newspaper wrote<\/a>. \u201cThey are terrified and all asking the same question: will our season tickets be taken away?\u201d<\/p>\n

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Italy\u2019s national newspaper, Corriere della Sera, reporting reactions from supporters on social media, quoted one fan asking<\/a>: \u201cDo we need to be accompanied by our parents when we hand in our excuse, like at school?\u201d<\/p>\n

In the 2018-19 season, Como were playing in Serie D, the fourth tier of Italian football, after going bankrupt twice in the previous 15 years. Last season, the small northern Italian club finished fourth after an extraordinary campaign, producing a series of outstanding performances<\/a> that surprised the football world.<\/p>\n