Multiple fans suffered injuries as an FC Twente tifo collapsed into the stands during a friendly match with fellow Dutch side RKVV Stevo.
Tifos are often celebrated within the sport for their creative designs and ability to wow an entire stadium, but this is a reminder that caution is of the utmost importance when creating them.
Multiple fans injured as FC Twente tifo collapses
/https%3A%2F%2Ffootballgroundguide.com%2Fapp%2Fuploads%2F2024%2F06%2FFC-Twente-stadium.jpg "Disaster strikes as FC Twente tifo collapses during friendly 1")
Huge FC Twente tifo collapses
22.06.2024??FC Twente – Stevo, friendly practice game. Large tifo falls on stands with fans. Large amount of injured people https://t.co/Fjy3xrlEmQ pic.twitter.com/88ORo0fKP2
— Hooligans.cz Official (@hooliganscz1999) June 22, 2024
The FC Twente fans deserve a huge amount of credit for going to the extreme lengths of creating and installing such a large tifo for a friendly game, it was more impressive than many fanbases manage for far more important fixtures.
However, their execution was clearly not at the standard it should have been and multiple people have been injured as a result.
The above video footage captures the exact moment the tifo fell and highlights how quickly things can take a turn for the worse when objects of this size are being used.
Fortunately, no serious injuries are believed to have been sustained at this stage, with reports suggesting that any damage caused was minor. But, this incident is perhaps a reminder that we all needed – tifos are amazing pieces of artwork, as long as they are installed with safety as a priority.
Why tifos are important in football
This may be an example of tifos going wrong, however, when they are done right, tifos are undeniably an important aspect of not just fan culture, but the sport as a whole.
Atmosphere and influence from the supporters in the stands can have huge impacts on a game and in some cases, can be the difference between a win and a loss.
They allow ultras groups to express their passion and love for a club in a peaceful manner and promote non-violent ways of asserting dominance within a match. While not perfect, and as the footage above shows, there certainly are health and safety issues attached to them, tifos remain an important part of football.