AC Sparta Praha Becomes the Second Club Globally to Receive the Access Champions Certificate

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The certification recognises AC Sparta Praha and Betano’s joint efforts in turning the epet ARENA into a more accessible stadium and creating inclusive matchday experiences for all fans.

AC Sparta Praha has received the Access Champions certificate from AccessibAll, the international organisation that evaluates accessibility standards in football stadiums. Betano, AC Sparta Praha’s main sponsor, played a key role in this distinction by funding the initial accessibility report that guided the club’s improvements and helped shape its long-term inclusion strategy. This recognition makes AC Sparta Praha one of only two clubs in the world that have earned this award, following Atlético Madrid.

Before the match against Teplice, AC Sparta Praha and Betano representatives received the Access Champions certificate from the international organisation AccessibAll. The certificate recognises excellence in accessibility for fans with disabilities.

As part of the event, AC Sparta Praha and Betano presented a cheque for 500.000 CK to the non-profit organisation Znakovárna z. s., which provides Czech Sign Language interpreting for the club. Starting with the match against Teplice, AC Sparta Praha, Betano and Znakovárna will begin a long-term cooperation on creating and regularly publishing pre-match programme videos interpreted into Czech Sign Language for every home game of the first team.

“The AccessibAll award confirms that we are on the right path. We focus on concrete steps that bring immediate benefits to our fans. We thank Betano for their support and cooperation — without it, many of these measures would not have been implemented to the extent and quality they are today. Our vision is for every fan, regardless of their needs, to feel comfortable and safe at our stadium,” said AC Sparta Praha’s CSR Manager, Irena Smetanová.

“We are glad that, together with AC Sparta Praha, we are making the football experience accessible to all fans with disabilities. We rely on practical solutions that truly make a difference in the stadium — from navigation beacons to expanded barrier-free areas and enhanced matchday services. Our ambition is for every fan to fully enjoy the game,” added Adam Srb, Marketing Manager for Betano in the Czech Republic.

In recent seasons, AC Sparta Praha, together with Betano, has implemented a number of improvements to enhance accessibility at the epet ARENA for fans with disabilities. The stadium has been equipped with audio navigation beacons for visually impaired fans. Wheelchair platforms have been expanded, with increased capacity for visiting wheelchair-using fans. The club has also adapted its digital environment to be clear and user-friendly for fans with specific needs. Since autumn, regular stadium tours have been held — for blind and visually impaired fans in odd months, and for deaf fans in even months. For blind supporters, the club provides audio descriptive commentary through individual receivers in cooperation with Livesport. The pre-match programme on the big screens now includes subtitles, and a summary of the programme is interpreted into sign language.

The Access Champions programme comprehensively assesses clubs. It covers stadium infrastructure, fan and community engagement, digital accessibility, matchday services for home and away fans with disabilities, as well as leadership and awareness in the field of inclusion.

“Access Champions certification was created with the real needs of fans in mind. We evaluate how a club thinks about accessibility, how it implements it in practice, and how it maintains high standards throughout the season. AC Sparta Praha has demonstrated a systematic and consistent approach across all areas — from infrastructure to matchday services and community engagement. This award confirms that accessibility is part of the club’s culture,” said AccessibAll CEO Olivier Jarosz.

AC Sparta Praha and Betano will continue to develop their cooperation with community organisations and international partners, expand the use of sign-language interpreting and closed captioning, continuously improve the digital environment, and strengthen matchday services. The goal is to make accessibility a permanent standard of the club environment.

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