FANS FACE INCREASED SECURITY MEASURES

THE Spanish government have confirmed that more than 5,500 police officers and security guards will be deployed to keep the peace at tomorrow night’s Europa League final in Seville.

The authorities are braced for an invasion of more than 150,000 supporters in the city as followers of Rangers and Eintracht Frankfurt flock to see their teams contest the European showpiece.

Fans who have been fortunate enough to get a ticket for the match have also been warned to expect some extremely strict security measures in and around the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium.

They will face three ‘rings of security’, two of which involve being searched prior to gaining entry into the stadium, with further measures in place at fan zones across the city.

Over the past couple of days, Rangers legends Graeme Souness and Richard Gough have pleaded with supporters to behave themselves and avoid repeating the scenes of Manchester in 2008.

Carlos Toscano, a government delegate in Seville, yesterday said he was ‘confident’ that the measures put in place would ensure that the match passes off without incident.

Toscano explained that police personnel in and around the city centre will include riot officers specialising in rapid response and also bomb disposal experts.

Seville’s San Pablo Airport will also be heavily monitored, as will the main roads in and out of the city. Police will also monitor social media to try and detect problems before they occur.

There will also be 1,000 private security guards working at the stadium with the specific brief of ensuring that fans do not gain access to the stadium with flares and pyrotechnics.

A spokesman for the Spanish government sub-delegation in Seville said: ‘More than 5,500 agents will guarantee security at the Europa Cup final in Seville.

‘An operation specially tailored for the needs of this event has been designed in which National Police and Civil Guard officers will act in conjunction with local police employed by Seville City Hall and the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan’s Stadium’s private security service.’

Asked about the three rings of security, a Spanish government spokesman added: ‘Three rings of security have been established in the stadium. The exterior ring will involve restrictions on motor vehicles and anti-terror barriers.

‘The second security circle will be established through fencing around the stadium, with search and inspection points.

‘The last ring will be constituted by the stadium doors, where new searches will take place.’