The role has its roots in Germany, where the first SLO appeared at Borussia Mönchengladbach in 1989 in a part-time and volunteer capacity.
[1] In 1992, the German "National Concept Sport and Security" (Nationales Konzept Sport und Sicherheit, NKSS) introduced the SLO as part of its concept on how to tackle the hooliganism and violence that surrounded German football in the 1970s and 1980s.
[6] One outcome of this commitment was the creation of the UEFA Supporter Liaison Officer Handbook published in 2011.
[5] A majority of the national member associations of UEFA have also adopted Article 35 as part of the requirements for national club licenses in the top tier or top tiers of their respective league systems.
[17] Luleå HF became the first Swedish ice hockey club to employ an SLO in June 2017.