SLO Role
In Austria
Martin Karastojanoff
SLO of Austrian Bundesliga
club „SV Mattersburg“
About Myself
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name: Martin Karastojanoff, 32 years old
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born and raised in Mattersburg, Austria
active supporter of the local football team since 1999
operator of a supporters’ web platform 2001-2006
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employee of the Mattersburg football club from 2006 to 2011
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webmaster / webdesigner
graphic designer
photographer
office worker
SLO since August 2006
since July 2011 on a voluntary base
current job: IT project manager
Austrian Bundesliga
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10 professional clubs
season: 36 rounds from Jul-Dec, Feb-May
club budgets from ~ 4 to 30 million EUR
2.400 to 15.700 average spectators
7000 average spectators overall (2012)
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map of Austria:
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City Of Mattersburg
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province „Burgenland“ since 1921 part of Austria
7100 inhabitants, 300 companies, 3400 jobs
known for it‘s football club “SV Mattersburg”
since 2009 home of the province‘s only football academy
football academy / church
Mattersburg Football Club
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established in 1922 – 90th anniversary
promoted into Bundesliga in 2003 (1989: 5th league)
Austrian Indoor Football Champion in 2005 (see picture below)
UEFA Cup qualifier and Austrian Cup finalist 2006 & 2007
2011: „Tallest Team Of Europe“ – avg. player size: 1.86 m
Mattersburg Football Club
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budget: 7.5 million EUR
club has to cover all stadium infrastructure costs
stadium: Pappelstadion (poplar trees surround the area)
characteristics: family-friendly, focus on regional players & staff
23 Austrian (18 regional) players, only 4 from abroad
average age of the players: 24 years
Mattersburg Football Club
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former players:
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Didi Kühbauer (Rapid Wien, Real Sociedad, Vfl Wolfsburg)
Carsten Jancker (Champions League winner w/ Bayern Munich)
Goce Sedloski (100 caps for Macedonia, now assistant coach)
Christian Fuchs (captain of the Austrian National Football Team, FC Schalke 04)
coach: Franz Lederer (headcoach since november 2004)
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born 1963, connected to the club for more than 30 years
Mattersburg Supporters
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stadium capacity: 15.100 (attendance record: 16.900 in 2003)
avg. number of spectators: 4.500 (10.000 in 2003)
20 to 150 active supporters in away games
4 local supporters‘ clubs (200 members)
SLO Role In Austria
since 2006 part of the licensing criteria
objectives:
• maintaining communication between supporters, clubs and
Bundesliga
• application of fan choreographies
• representation of all active supporters
requirements:
• attendence of home and away matches on a regularly basis
• membership in a (bigger) supporters club
• cooperation and dedication
• Between 19 and 40 years old
SLO Role In Austria
duties:
 helps to arrange and conduct fan choreographies
 helps addressing supporters at matches
 takes part in club meetings and Bundesliga workshops
 cooperates with safety officers and SLOs of other clubs
 organizes meetings with supporters
 encourages supporters to cooperate with club, police and safety officer
 Influences supporters to support in a positive way and to
exclude members who don‘t respect Code of Conduct
rights:
• participation in club activities
• participation in Bundesliga meetings
• free entrance (accreditation) to all championship matches
Benefits For Supporters
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better organisation and presentation of supporter‘s activities
better interaction with the club officials
greater chance of getting financial support
reducing difficulties when travelling to away games
Benefits For The Club
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improvement of relationship club <> supporters
providing an SLO increases service level of the club
single point of contact for addressing supporters
better de-escalating measures in possible conflict situations
getting direct and profound feedback from supporters
financial benefits due to precise marketing campaigns
My Mission
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club and supporters are acting in concert
supporters‘ clubs are working together
collective dissociation from racism, discrimination and violence
positive support of the team, respecting guest team & visitors
Latest Projects & Topics
projects:
• creation of a covered supporters area
• low priced subscription for active supporters
• bargain supporter‘s travels for 5 / 10 Euros
• annual FARE Action weeks
• periodic meetings between club officials and supporters
continuous topics at away games:
• improvement of catering situation
• improvement of sanitary situation
• fair ticket pricing in visitor‘s areas
• respectful treatment by security personnel
Some
Impressions
Of My Work
As An SLO
Bundesliga Meeting Of SLOs & Safety Officers
Having A Chat With Our Safety Officer
Home Game Audience & Supporter‘s Corner
Organising Fan Travels
Discussing Issues With The Local Safety Officer
Team And Supporters At Grape Harvest
Different „Dress Codes“ Are Allowed
„Thumbs Up“ For Young Supporters
Recording A Pre-Season TV-Trailer
Celebrating XMAS With A Supporters‘ Club
FARE Action Week Activities
Show Racism The Red Card!
Thank you!
SLO Role
In Austria
Martin Karastojanoff
SLO of Austrian Bundesliga
club „SV Mattersburg“