Zurich Zurich City Council wants to significantly increase funding for FCZ fan work

Zurich City Council wants to support the FC Zurich fan social work association with CHF 130,000 per year from 2025. To date, the city has contributed CHF 50,000. The city council justifies the requested increase in contributions by stating that more fans make it necessary to expand the fan work.

The number of spectators at FCZ home matches has risen sharply in recent years, the city council stated in a press release on Wednesday. In particular, the proportion of "very young, new fans as well as girls and young women has risen significantly".

A new "violence-prevention tutoring service" is now to be set up. Young adult FCZ fans are to be deployed as tutors and mediators. They are to be trained accordingly and supported by specialists from the FC Zurich fan social work association.

City bears main part of additional costs

FCZ fan work has so far been financed by the football club as well as the city and canton of Zurich with CHF 50,000 each per year. The expanded offer will cost CHF 100,000 more.

The FCZ operating company is increasing its contribution by CHF 20,000 to CHF 70,000, according to a statement from Zurich City Council. The canton will continue to contribute CHF 50,000. The city council is asking the municipal council to increase the city's contribution for the years 2025 to 2028 by CHF 80,000 to CHF 130,000.

All Swiss Football League clubs are obliged to support fan work, according to the city council. Fan work addresses fan-specific issues such as pyros, violence and safety, but also supports young people with other concerns from their lives. This is an important task.

The city council also wants to support the GCZ fan project association financially. A corresponding application is currently being drafted, according to the press release.