Benfica and Marseille, rivals in the quarter-finals of the Europa League, this Sunday made a joint statement to the police authorities of Portugal and France to guarantee the presence of fans of both clubs at both games.
The announcement came two days after Gallic media reported that local police in the Bouches-du-Rhône region wanted to prevent the movement of fans and members associated with the Lisbon club in a bid to prevent episodes of violence between Benfica and Marseille fans. , in the decisive return match scheduled for April 18.
Benfica and Marseille call on the authorities of both countries to ensure that the quarter-final matches of the Europa League are played in the presence of fans of both clubs, both in the first leg and on Thursday, 11 April at the Estádio da Luz, as in the second leg at the Velodrome,” reads a note published on the Reds’ official website.
On Friday, the French press added that French intelligence services had identified a group of 200-300 Benfica fans with a violent past and belonging to radical and aggressive groups.
The police therefore prefer to continue the ban because, based on experience from other games, Portuguese fans tend to travel and move in small groups, making it difficult for security forces to monitor them.
“Together with UEFA and the authorities, both clubs work closely to meet all criteria and guarantee the highest standards of the organization in terms of safety,” defends the Lisbon emblem.
The first leg will take place on Thursday at the Estádio da Luz in Lisbon, followed by the return match on French soil a week later.