Como directors surrender seats to oldest fans ahead of RB Leipzig match

Como's leadership handed an unusual gift to long‑standing supporters ahead of the club's first Champions League match. With tickets sold out for the historic fixture against RB Leipzig, president Mirvan Suvarso and several board members gave up their seats so elderly fans could attend.

Suvarso made clear who the gesture was meant for: "We decided to give up our seats to the supporters who have waited the longest — those born in 1950 or earlier, who have followed Como through every division and every era," he said.

Small stadium, huge demand

The game will be played at Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, a ground recently renovated to meet UEFA standards. The arena holds roughly 12,000 spectators, but for Champions League fixtures the usable capacity is reduced by about 1,000 seats because of operational and television requirements, which helped create intense competition for the remaining tickets.

The timing of the gesture underlines Como's dramatic turnaround. The club went through two bankruptcies over the past two decades before climbing back up the Italian system: three promotions in six years culminated in a return to Serie A in 2024 after a 21‑year absence.

Last season, under the management of Cesc Fàbregas, Como finished fourth in Serie A and secured qualification for the Champions League — the first appearance in the competition in the club's 119‑year history. The match against RB Leipzig is scheduled for Thursday.

Club officials said the decision was a way of recognising the supporters whose loyalty spanned the club's toughest periods, turning a sold‑out, high‑stakes evening into a moment that honours Como's roots.

Photo: press material from the event