Statement from the F.C. Copenhagen Fan Club regarding the location of the Cup Final

The F.C. Copenhagen Fan Club finds it deeply unsatisfactory that this year’s cup final has been moved to MCH Arena in Herning – a stadium with a capacity of only 12,000 spectators. This week’s two semi-finals in the cup tournament attracted a combined audience of over 35,000 spectators, clearly showing the widespread, nationwide interest in the tournament. In light of the commitment from both finalists and the final's status as a celebration of football across Denmark, it is highly regrettable that such limited conditions have been chosen for the match.

According to media reports, each club is allocated approximately 5,000 tickets – a number that falls far short of meeting the demand from either F.C. Copenhagen or Silkeborg IF. F.C. Copenhagen has sold nearly 23,000 season tickets, and Silkeborg alone sold 12,000 tickets for last year’s cup final at Parken. It is therefore incomprehensible that the significant interest a cup final naturally generates wasn’t factored into the planning – especially considering this is one of the biggest standalone football events of the year.

We naturally acknowledge the police's assessments and the need to take safety seriously. That’s precisely why, after the derby match in the autumn of 2024, we sharply criticized the security conditions at Brøndby Stadium and questioned whether we could still recommend our members attend matches there. But for that very reason, the security issues at Brøndby Stadium should have been addressed much earlier in the process. It is simply unsustainable and highly objectionable to place a final at a stadium where certain clubs reportedly cannot play. The risk of trouble should have been obvious after the 2022 cup final at Brøndby Stadium, where both FCM and OB fans were attacked and buses were vandalized by supporters linked to Brøndby IF. Moving the final after the semi-finals have been played because the “wrong teams” are meeting, and the police can’t guarantee safety, is outrageous and only creates more problems – not least because the location of the final is only revealed a few weeks before match day. It’s disrespectful to the many fans who need to plan travel across the country.

On the official Danish Cup website, it states: “…for the vast majority – both spectators and players – the magic of the tournament lies in the final being played at the national stadium.” And this is exactly the heart of the issue. The cup tournament may be the most tradition-rich competition we have in Danish football. All Danish clubs can participate and dream of making it all the way to the final. We all know that the final is traditionally held on Ascension Day, and for many smaller clubs, the phrase “from the field to Parken” expresses the very hope and ambition that the tournament fosters.

Claus Thomsen and the Divisionsforeningen (Danish Leagues) have explained that it’s a wish from the clubs to host the final in different locations across the country. At F.C. Copenhagen Fan Club, we urge that future planning for the final be more long-term and holistic – and that much greater consideration be given to the many fans. Because it cannot be right that the country’s biggest football celebration doesn’t take place at the stadium where the most fans can participate. There’s not much of a football party when you’re left standing outside, looking in.