In the new year, future FC St. Gallen season subscribers will be able to choose between a physical or digital subscription. Whether it’s a card or a mobile phone, fans can also activate their seasonal FCSG scarf subscription, regardless of the option they choose, using the app from Eastern Swiss startup CollectID. It contains an embedded NFC chip.

“Although the NFC chip does not actively communicate, in principle it can be read and tracked at a certain distance using suitable methods,” says Martin Steiger, a lawyer in the field of law in the digital space. “In the end, what the FCSG and the provider do about it is up to trust.”

FC St. Gallen responds that the chip embedded in the fan’s scarf has no tracking function. “The chip only interacts with the provided CollectID smartphone app or the turnstiles at Kybunpark.” If you still don’t trust a chip in a scarf but don’t want to go without a new fan accessory, Steiger has a tip: “The chip can be destroyed by putting the scarf in the microwave, for example.” But only for a few seconds, otherwise there is a risk that the scarf will catch fire.

According to the lawyer, when introducing a new gadget, the most important thing is to have a transparent flow of information and freedom of choice. “People who want to save data should not be forced to use a fan’s scarf or smartphone to access the stadium.” You should always offer a stand-alone alternative “that can actually be used and not just for the sake of it.” Such is the case with the fan scarf, which Steiger sees as a positive.

Green and white in the shower

A fan scarf has been sent to all subscribers of this year’s season as a loyalty gift, whether the subscription has been renewed or not. In a press release from FC St. Gallen, the new accessory is presented as a “digital innovation”. The scarf will also serve as an incentive for more fans to enter the home stadium in the club’s traditional green and white colors.

The reaction on the FC St. Gallen fan forum has been consistently positive. “I’m already dreaming about what it will look like next season,” the post reads. “Give the marketers a green and white medal for this!” Martin Steiger considers the new fan gadget original, but not particularly innovative and advanced. For him, digitization means that everything does not need a separate physical object.

By the way: if the scarf is lost, the seasonal subscription can be easily deactivated through the application, just like in the case of a lost credit card.

(mnu)