Three FSGC steward managers and three Gendarmerie non-commissioned officers travelled to Bologna to observe security operations for the Italy-Turkey match, played on Monday 5 October at the Renato Dall’Ara stadium, for matchday four of the 2026/27 UEFA Nations League. The visit was organised as part of a collaboration between the San Marino Football Federation (FSGC), the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), the Gendarmerie and NFIP Italy, launched during the UEFA Safety and Security Conference held in Madrid in early September.
The experience allowed the San Marino officials to observe the various phases involved in managing an international fixture. “As far as its remit is concerned, the Gendarmerie Corps made direct contact with the Bologna Police Headquarters (Questura) and the GOS [match-day security operations group], taking part as observers in the dynamics and operations related to the preparation and organisation of the international football match,” reads the statement issued by the San Marino Football Federation.
The Gendarmerie was represented by Warrant Officers Marta Mazza, Gianluigi Conti and Gianluca Menicucci. For the FSGC, steward managers Dominic Vincenti, Mirco Masini and Stefano Zafferani took part, working alongside the heads of the stadium’s security sectors.
The activity began with the morning organisational meeting, which the six officials attended as observers, together with UEFA representatives and the other parties involved in preparing for and running the match. From the afternoon onward, the observation shifted to operations on the ground.
The programme covered “the setting up of entry points, the preparation and management of entry flows, the fans’ march, crowd management on the terraces, supporter monitoring in the stands, the organisation of areas dedicated to VIPs and media, the dressing-room area and the teams’ arrival, through to the post-event phase with crowd dispersal and the conclusion of all activities connected to the match.”
The FSGC highlighted the value of engaging with an organisation that regularly manages events of this scale. “The synergy between Italian and San Marino institutions and authorities has once again proven solid and fruitful, as it allowed our organisation to closely observe the specific dynamics of major events that occur only rarely in San Marino — often months apart — whereas in larger cities like Bologna they are a weekly occurrence.”
In the statement, the Federation thanked the Gendarmerie Corps for its cooperation, and the FIGC, Bologna FC, NFIP Italy and the Italian State Police/Bologna Police Headquarters for their availability and collaboration with the San Marino officials.
