Como trade VIP box for veteran fans as Champions League debut looms

Como president Mirwan Suwarso has handed the board’s VIP box over to the club’s oldest supporters for the Champions League tie against German opponents at the newly redeveloped Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia on Thursday evening, swapping corporate seats for fans born in 1950 or earlier.

From bankruptcy to Champions League

Since the 2019 takeover by the Indonesian Djarum Group, the club has been guided by president Mirwan Suwarso, who was appointed to oversee a corporate structure that has delivered rapid progress. Under head coach Cesc Fabregas, Como finished in the top four last season, securing automatic qualification for the Champions League. Fabregas also holds a minority stake alongside high‑profile investors Thierry Henry and Raphael Varane, the latter sitting on the board.

A seat for the faithful

Suwarso announced that he and key board members would give up their VIP seats, allocating them to lifelong supporters born in 1950 or earlier – the fans who remained loyal through the club’s descent into Serie D after the 2017 bankruptcy. The executive box will therefore be empty of corporate dignitaries and billionaire owners for Thursday’s match. He stressed that the gesture honours those who stood by the club during its lowest ebb and non‑league years.

The Italian side will host their German opponents in the newly redeveloped Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, a venue that is already sold out with a reduced capacity and a limited number of tickets available. Suwarso’s social‑media message stressed that the club could not accommodate everyone, but the honoured fans will now occupy the most prestigious spots. He invited anyone aware of an eligible supporter to write to [email address hidden].

This will be Como’s first appearance in a major UEFA tournament; the only previous international outing was the 1980/81 Mitropa Cup, a historic Central European competition. The club’s ascent from fourth‑tier obscurity began after bankruptcy in 2017, climbing the league pyramid and returning to Serie A in 2024 after a 21‑year absence. The fairytale rise has been described as a rapid climb from Serie D to Europe’s elite within a few seasons.

By swapping corporate luxury for the devotion of its oldest supporters, Como highlights a philosophy that values community as much as ambition. The gesture sets a tone for the Champions League debut and suggests the club will continue to blend tradition with its new‑found elite status. Fans will watch from the finest seats as Como battles at Europe’s top table, underscoring the symbolic weight of the gesture.