Madrid security tightens as Liverpool and Spurs fans set to pour into Spanish capital

May 29 – Madrid authorities are launching a massive security operation ahead of Saturday’s all-English Champions League final as thousands of Liverpool and Tottenham fans converge on the Spanish capital.

Each team has been allocated 17,000 seats but police anticipated thousands of ticketless fans will make their way to Spain.

Some 4,700 police, aided by drones, will keep watch over what the authorities deem a “high risk” event that is generating the largest security operation for any sporting event in the city. They will be reinforced by helicopters, “civil protection” and the fire brigade.

Designated fan zones have been set up for 24 hours starting at 0800 local time on Saturday, with fans arriving at different airport terminals and taking different metro lines to the stadium from their separate meeting places in the city – the Colon Square for Spurs fans, and the Felipe II Square for Liverpool supporters.

“Security forces and corps have done an enormous, exhaustive and excellent job so that we can all enjoy (the match),” Maria Paz Garcia-Vera, representative of the Madrid regional government, told a media briefing on Tuesday.

In a joint effort with UEFA, Spanish police will also launch the so-called Fan Information Teams to advise fans.

The prospect of two sets of English fans gathering in the city’s bars all day in the Spanish sunshine is an understandable concern but Francisco Pardo, director general of Spain’s National Police force, said Madrid offered a “cast-iron guarantee when it comes to security at leading sporting events”, citing the recent hosting of the rearranged Copa Libertadores final second leg match between River Plate and Boca Juniors, which passed off uneventfully.

“The Champions final is a world showcase, they will be looking at us from all over the world and the Spanish police want to be there to offer a good image of Spain as a safe, hospitable and friendly country,” said Pardo.

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