The Public Security Police assured this Sunday that they will have “no tolerance for acts of violence” and “messages of a racist and xenophobic nature” in the “final four” of the League Cup, which will be held from 24 to 28 January in Leiria.
Suintendant Abel Batalha of the PSP in Leiria stressed that these police forces will also be especially attentive to the importation of pyrotechnic materials so that “a good atmosphere is created around this event.”
“The outer perimeter will be for ticketing control only, selective searches will be carried out in the security area, and everyone will be searched at the entrance to the doors. Nobody gets through without being searched. PSP so that we are not surprised, ”Abel Battle assured.
The PSP will also be vigilant and will work in partnership with the Office for the Prevention and Control of Violence in Sports to ensure that fans who are banned from football stadiums do not.
The security plan for the semi-final games, which will see Aroca play Sporting CP (Tuesday) and Porto against Académico de Viseu (Wednesday), includes “all PSP features,” the subintendent assured, but did not specify which ones.
The security device consists of the PSP, GNR, private security, ambulance, firefighters, the Red Cross and the civil protection service of the municipality of Leiria, with the aim of ensuring that the event, which takes place in Leiria for the third time in a row, will be “a real football anthem” – emphasized the assistant manager of the PSP in Leiria.
Before arriving at the Estádio de Leiria on match days, two security perimeters will be set up, the first of which will open at 15:00 for an initial access check. “Only those who have a ticket can enter,” explained Portugal League security director Roberto Domingos.
A “selective search” will be conducted in the area adjacent to the stadium, and then all fans will be searched at the entrance to the sports complex.
The opening of doors for access to the stadium takes place two hours before the game.
Roberto Domingos explained that fans of semi-final teams enter through different areas. Thus, in the two semi-finals, the western zone (doors 5, 6, 7 and 8) is reserved for the Aroca and Académico de Viseu fans on the respective match days.
The east side (gates 1, 2, 3 and 4) is reserved for Sporting CP and Porto fans on the respective days of their semi-finals.
“This is a spectacle that we want safely. We want families to come and enjoy it,” the League’s director of security emphasized, meaning that the situation will be identical at the final.
Abel Batalha also assured that security will be throughout the city, the center of which, where the “fan zone” is located, is also guarded by video surveillance.
“The PSP is calling for sporting spirit and fair play so that this is a sporting celebration for all players,” warned the deputy, who advises people to arrive as early as possible and leave their cars at the appropriate parks.
Abel Batalha also asked for the understanding of all citizens, namely Leiriense, as they will be forced to travel on the roads during the games that take place during the week.
“The entrance to the stadium is difficult. We advise you to choose external roads”, not least because the arteries in the area surrounding the stadium will be cut from 15:00.
The PSP also advises against buying tickets from strangers to avoid being scammed, not leaving items in plain sight inside vehicles, and keeping wallets close to the body in groups.
Abel Batalha also acknowledged that if Porto and Sporting CP were to play in the final on Saturday, it would be a “high risk” game, but underlined that PSP is ready to respond to any possible scenario.
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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