San Siro Stadium bid to rein in unruly fans

Image: San Siro Stadium (Facebook)

The facial recognition technology has been rolled out at the San Siro Stadium in Milan, Italy, home of the top-flight clubs AC Milan and Inter Milan.

‘m.sohu.com’ stated that the above technology has been adopted to identify the unruly fans inside the stadium.

The San Siro Stadium is a football stadium in the San Siro district of Milan, Italy. It has a seating capacity of 80,018 making it the largest stadium in Italy and one of the largest stadiums in Europe.

The AC Milan, also known as Milan, is an Italian professional football club based in Milan, Lombardy (Italy). Founded in 1899 the club competes in the Serie A, the top tier of Italian football. Milan has spent its entire history in Serie A with the exception of the 1980-1981 and 1982-1983 seasons. The San Siro Stadium serves as their home ground.

The Inter Milan, also known as Inter, is an Italian professional football club based in Milan, Lombardy (Italy). Inter is the only Italian side to have always competed in the top flight of Italian football (Serie A) since its debut in 1909. The San Siro Stadium serves as their residence.

The technology has been deployed in the Curva Stands of the San Siro Stadium and in the away section. The technology has been developed by the computer vision solutions firm Reco 3.26.

Cavallino (Italy)-based Reco 3.26 is an innovative small and medium enterprise (SME) specialized in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) applied to computer vision. Reco 3.26 offers innovative, sustainable and customized solutions to the companies and the public/Government entities around the world. It acts with a sense of environmental and social responsibility.

‘m.sohu.com’ further stated that this advancement symbolizes a broader shift towards modern technologies. At San Siro, 205 high-definition cameras equipped with facial recognition capabilities are now monitoring every fan entering the venue. The intention behind this system is laudable: It aims to identify and manage disruptive individuals promptly allowing the compliant fans to enjoy the match without distractions.

On ingress the fans will have their photographs taken twice. The fans’ photos will be matched against the name printed on the ticket and the information will be stored on a system which only the local police will be able to access.

The technology will be used to identify fans that sing racist chants or throw objects towards the pitch.

According to the Serie A head honcho Luigi De Siervo the new biometric system can clarify responsibilities and enhance the security quotient while respecting the privacy of the well-behaved fans. By leveraging the biometric data the law enforcement authorities can swiftly respond to disturbances streamlining what has traditionally been a slow investigative process. The biometric system at the San Siro Stadium complies with the European Union (EU) data protection regulations.

The introduction of biometric technology serves as a reminder of the growing emphasis on security in sports culture. The biometric system at the San Siro Stadium signals a technological leap and it also serves as a profound reflection on the culture within the sports venues. As fans how can they navigate this changing landscape ensuring that they safeguard their rights while embracing the innovations that promise to enhance their sporting experiences?

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