The Public Security Police guaranteed that it will be “intolerant of acts of violence” and “messages of a racist and xenophobic nature” in the ‘final four’ of the League Cup, from January 24 to 28, in Leiria.
Commissioner Abel Batalha, from the Leiria PSP, stressed that this police force will also be especially attentive to the entry of pyrotechnic material, so that “a good atmosphere is created around this event.”
“The outer perimeter will only be for ticketing control, in the security area there will be random searches and everyone will be searched at the entrance of the doors. No one will pass without being searched. The fans are being monitored by the valences of the PSP, so that they don’t surprise us”, assured Abel Battle.
The PSP will also be vigilant and will work in collaboration with the Authority for the Prevention and Combat of Violence in Sport to ensure that fans who are prohibited from entering football stadiums do not.
The security plan for the semifinal matches, which will pit Arouca against Sporting (Tuesday) and FC Porto against Académico de Viseu (Wednesday) involves “all the capabilities of the PSP”, assured the superintendent, without specifying which ones.
The security device is made up of PSP, GNR, private security, medical emergencies, firefighters, the Red Cross and the civil protection service of the Municipality of Leiria, with the aim of guaranteeing that the event, which is taking place for the third consecutive time in Leiria, be a “true hymn to football”, stressed the superintendent of the PSP in Leiria.
Before arriving at the Estádio de Leiria, two security perimeters will be created on match days, the first of which will open at 3:00 p.m. for initial access verification. “Only those who have a ticket can enter,” explained the director of security for the Portugal League, Roberto Domingos.
Within the area surrounding the stadium, there will be a “random search”, and then all fans will be searched at the entrance of the sports complex.
The access doors to the stadium open two hours before the game.
Roberto Domingos explained that the fans of the semifinalist teams enter through different areas. Thus, in the two semifinals, the West zone (gates 5,6,7 and 8) is reserved for fans of Arouca and Académico de Viseu, in the respective days.
The east side (gates 1, 2, 3 and 4) is for fans of Sporting and FC Porto, on the respective days of their semifinals.
“It is a show that we want for sure. We want families to come and enjoy it”, stressed the League’s security director, referring to the fact that for the final there will be an identical situation.
Abel Batalha also assured that there will be security throughout the city, whose center -where the ‘fan zone’ is located- is also monitored by video surveillance.
“The PSP appeals to sportsmanship and ‘fair-play’, to make it a sports party for all the actors”, warned the superintendent, who advises arriving as early as possible and leaving the vehicles in the corresponding parks.
Abel Batalha also asked for the understanding of all citizens, particularly those from Leiri, since they will be conditioned on road mobility during the matches that take place during the week.
“The accesses are delicate. We recommend taking the external roads”, especially since the arteries around the stadium will be cut off after 3:00 p.m.
The PSP also advises not buying tickets from strangers to avoid scams, not leaving objects in plain sight inside vehicles, and keeping purses next to the body in groups.
Abel Batalha also admitted that if the final, to be played on Saturday, pits Porto against Sporting, it will be a “high-risk” game, but stressed that the PSP is prepared to respond to any possible scenario.
Source: TSF
