Helmut Spahn (born 1961) is Director Security of Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), former Director General of the International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS),[1] former president of the football club Kickers Offenbach and spent over 20 years as a high-ranking officer in the German police force. Spahn was formerly Head of Security for the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™[2] and Chief Security Officer for the German Football Association (Deutscher Fussball-Bund, DFB).[3] [4] He has been a UEFA Security Officer for the Champions League and Europa League since 2007 as well as UEFA Euro 2012.[5][6][7]

Helmut Spahn
Helmut Spahn
Director Security of Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA)
Assumed office
May 2017
PresidentKickers Offenbach
Personal details
Born (1961-03-19) 19 March 1961 (age 63)
Seligenstadt, Germany
Residence(s)Zurich, Switzerland
Alma materUniversity of Applied Science Wiesbaden

Early life, training and education edit

Born 19 March 1961 in Seligenstadt, Germany, Spahn received his training at the Senior Police Service in Wiesbaden and the Police Academy in Munster. He graduated with a degree in Management from the University of Applied Science Wiesbaden, where he also lectured Management Studies.

The International Centre for Sport Security edit

Spahn joined the ICSS in 2011 as executive director and served as director general until 2016. The ICSS is an international, not-for-profit organisation based in Doha, Qatar. It was established in 2010 and formally launched in March 2011 by its president, Mohammed Hanzab, to act as a global hub of expertise in the field of safety, security and integrity for major sporting events.[8] The ICSS’s key activities include advisory, training and research.[9] It works primarily with organising committees,[10] governments, bidding nations,[11] infrastructure owners, sport associations,[12] leagues[13][14][15][16] and clubs.[17][18][19][20][21][22][23] The ICSS also organises the annual conference, "Securing Sport", held in Doha, Qatar.[24][25][26] ICSS Advisory Board members include: Lord John Stevens, Eric Drossart, Khoo Boon Hui, Rick Parry, Dr Peter Ryan, Horst R. Schmidt and Monica Seles.

Law enforcement edit

Spahn began his career in law enforcement in 1984 in Hessen, Germany, where he served on the local police force and did service in the riot police unit. He went on to hold several key positions, including becoming the platoon leader and lead training officer for the riot police unit. Spahn was appointed the Head of Security and Public Order of the Frankfurt Police Directorate in 2000, before becoming Head of the Frankfurt Police SEK police tactical unit.[27]

Security for major sports events edit

From 2006 to 2011 Spahn was Chief Security Officer for the German Football Association Spahn served as the Head of Security for the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™,[28] the Head of Security for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup Germany and has been a UEFA security officer for the Champions League and Europa League since 2007 as well as UEFA Euro 2012.[29][30][31][32] As the executive director for the ICSS, Spahn is often called on for expert security advice and opinion,[33][34][35][36] most recently on the Boston Marathon bombing.[37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44]

External links edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Doha-based ICSS joins hands with IfF for security research". The Peninsula. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
  2. ^ "Soccer figures grasp for ways to reduce Egyptian violence". FootballSpeak.com. Retrieved 17 March 2012.
  3. ^ "DFB-Sicherheitschef Spahn geht nach Katar". Focus. Retrieved 10 March 2013.
  4. ^ "Sport Security Expert on Doha Conference, London Olympics". Around The Rings. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  5. ^ "Helmut Spahn, Executive Director of the ICSS, appointed as UEFA Security Officer for the men's and women's UEFA Champions League Finals". Keir Radnedge.com. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
  6. ^ "Helmut Spahn, Executive Director of the ICSS, appointed as UEFA Security Officer for UEFA Euro 2012". Keir Radnedge.com. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
  7. ^ "Spahn in new UEFA role". Doha Stadium Plus Qatar. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
  8. ^ "Qatar 2022 in safe hands with the ICSS". SportsPro. 15 November 2011. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
  9. ^ "ICSS commits to research". The Peninsula. Archived from the original on 20 July 2012. Retrieved 16 March 2012.
  10. ^ "Security Under spotlight". Major Events International. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  11. ^ "Soccer: 2022 World Cup, Qatar focuses on safety and security". AnsaMed. Archived from the original on 15 December 2013. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
  12. ^ "QFA signs MoU with ICSS". Doha Stadium Plus. Archived from the original on 25 March 2013. Retrieved 20 March 2013.
  13. ^ "ICSS signs MoU with EPFL". Gulf Times. 19 March 2013. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  14. ^ "SECURING SPORT 2013 / ICSS and European Professional Football Leagues sign MoU". Keir Radnedge. Retrieved 19 March 2013.[permanent dead link]
  15. ^ "ICSS, European Professional Football Leagues sign MoU". The Peninsula. Archived from the original on 30 June 2013. Retrieved 20 March 2013.
  16. ^ "ICSS to help EPFL make major events safe and secured". Qatar Tribune. Archived from the original on 30 June 2013. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  17. ^ "ICSS work with Pantheon-Sorbonne University in fight against match fixing". Inside the Games. 14 March 2012. Retrieved 14 March 2012.
  18. ^ "ICSS signs MoU with Institute for Fan Culture to combat violence and hooliganism in sport". Inside World Football. Archived from the original on 17 March 2012. Retrieved 15 March 2012.
  19. ^ "ICSS set to combat match-fixing". The Peninsula. Archived from the original on 14 July 2012. Retrieved 15 March 2012.
  20. ^ "ICSS making important strides - despite Richards idiocy". Give Me Football. Retrieved 15 March 2012.
  21. ^ "The International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) has announced a partnership with the Institute for Fan Culture (IfF) in Germany". Inside The Games. 4 March 2012. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
  22. ^ "ICSS announce new partnership with IfF". Inside World Football. Archived from the original on 5 September 2012. Retrieved 8 March 2012.
  23. ^ "The International Centre for Sport Security signs MOU with Germany's Institute for Fan Culture". Olympicsports.com. 16 March 2012.
  24. ^ "2nd International Sport Security Conference media accreditation open". AIPS Media. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  25. ^ "Security, Sport Experts Meet in Doha". Around the Rings. Retrieved 14 March 2012.
  26. ^ "2nd International Sport Security Conference concludes in Doha". AIPS Media. Retrieved 16 March 2012.
  27. ^ http://www.kas.de/upload/dokumente/2008/10/cv-spahn.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  28. ^ "Soccer figures grasp for ways to reduce Egyptian violence". FootballSpeak.com. Retrieved 17 March 2012.
  29. ^ "Safety first!". Doha Stadium Plus. Archived from the original on 1 March 2012. Retrieved 14 March 2012.
  30. ^ "ICSS director Helmut Spahn to lead Euro 2012 security operation". Inside The Games. 6 June 2012. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
  31. ^ "New security partnership". INTERNATIONAL ICE HOCKEY FEDERATION. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
  32. ^ "ICSS signs MoU with Institute for Fan Culture to combat violence and hooliganism in sport". Inside the Games. 15 March 2012. Retrieved 15 March 2012.
  33. ^ "Pyrotechnik: Streitthema im aktuellen sportstudio". ZDF Sportstudio. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
  34. ^ "Da redden Personen, die keine Ahnung haben". 11 Freunde. 23 October 2012. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
  35. ^ "Ich hätte die Gespräche fortgesetzt". 11 Freunde. 24 October 2012. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
  36. ^ Horeni, Michael (29 October 2012). "Tatort Stadion?". Faz.net. Focus. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  37. ^ "Show must go on for city sport events after Boston blasts". Reuters. 16 April 2013. Retrieved 16 April 2013.
  38. ^ "How to protect 500,000 along a 26-mile route". World News on NBC News.com. Retrieved 16 April 2013.
  39. ^ "Safety first!". Doha Stadium Plus. Archived from the original on 1 March 2012. Retrieved 14 March 2012.
  40. ^ "Sport Security Expert Says London Marathon Should Go Ahead". Around the Rings. Retrieved 16 April 2013.
  41. ^ "Helmut Spahn, DFB-Sicherheitsbeauftragter und Leiter der Task Force _Gewalt..." Retrieved 16 March 2013.
  42. ^ "Marathons sind attraktive Ziele für Terroristen". Die Welt. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
  43. ^ Scott-Elliot, Robin (16 April 2013). "London Marathon: Mo Farah committed to running race and amateurs expects to follow suit". The Independent. Retrieved 16 April 2013.
  44. ^ "Spahn: Mehr Polizei nicht immer die beste Lösung". Stimme. 17 April 2013. Retrieved 17 April 2013.