Who doesn’t enjoy the excitement of a good football match with their family? Or feeling the energy of their favorite team in the stadium? Unfortunately, what should be a celebration is turning into a real nightmare, turning the passion for sport into a danger. I remain convinced that biometrics in stadiums could be key to reducing violent acts.
I don’t want to exaggerate, but in recent months there have been several incidents that would worry me if I were at a stadium with my children. Atlético Nacional and Junior couldn’t finish their match due to clashes in the stands. In another game, Junior fans vandalized players’ cars, and the Deportivo Cali vs. La Equidad match was interrupted when Cali fans attacked the channel’s equipment in Palmaseca.
Would the biometrics Are stadiums the solution to ending violence at matches? Probably not, but it would certainly give the authorities better control over who enters, making it easier to identify and prosecute those responsible, and allowing true fans to enjoy themselves without problems.
A successful example of biometrics in stadiums is Palmeiras in Brazil, where they implemented this system in early 2023 with positive results: 28 suspects were arrested while trying to attend a soccer match.
This measure also strengthens the goal of reducing, and even eliminating, ticket resale, a very common practice at sporting events. The Colombian Superintendency of Industry and Commerce warns that ticket resale can cause problems for consumers, such as the purchase of counterfeit or duplicate tickets, leading to financial losses and ruining the experience for attendees.
What continues to be surprising is that, although the implementation of a fan registration system was proposed in Colombia more than 13 years ago , it has not yet been made official.
The future of soccer with biometrics in stadiums
Brazil’s case has been a success, not only in terms of security, but because previously, up to 40% of the tickets for each match were fraudulent. Now, with the implementation of this system, fraud has been reduced by 99% and, in addition, access to the stadium has significantly improved, making it faster and smoother, according to El País.
For biometrics in stadiums to be effective, both political will and investment are required. Political will is key to organizing the system and preventing tragedies, while investment brings significant benefits, such as improving the attendee experience and fostering collaboration between the public and private sectors, thus contributing to citizen safety.
How does it work?
- The user performs digital onboarding with proof of life and uploads their identification documents to an APP.
- The user then purchases a ticket to access the soccer match.
- This record is stored in a biographic and biometric database, providing the first reference for authentication.
- Once the previous step is completed, the person is authorized and the entry is verified to be correctly linked to their biometric record.
- On the day of the game, the user shows his or her ticket using a digital wallet.
- Finally, security cameras inside and outside the stadium capture facial images of attendees and send them to facial recognition software. This system compares the captured features with those stored in its database to verify each person’s identity.
Football should be enjoyed by everyone who loves it and is united by it. Biometrics in stadiums offers greater security by allowing for more rigorous control of attendees, helping to prevent violence and ensuring public safety. Furthermore, this system significantly reduces fraud by decreasing ticket counterfeiting and resale, thus improving transparency and building trust in access. It also speeds up the entry of fans, providing a faster and smoother experience. Its success, however, depends on effective collaboration between the public and private sectors, as well as solid investment in advanced technology.