By Samindra Kunti
November 27 – In the aftermath of the Paris terrorist attacks France have banned away fans from attending games until mid-December. Paris Saint-Germain and Brussels-based Anderlecht have been ordered to implement special measures for their fixtures this weekend.
“The [French] Interior Ministry has issued an order banning away fans for the 15th round of Ligue 1 matches, and the 16th round of matches of Ligue 2, this weekend,” read a statement of the French League LFP.
“Another order, with the same provisions, will be issued very soon regarding the 16th, 17th, 18th rounds of Ligue 1, the 17th and 18th rounds of Ligue 2, the eighth round of the French Cup and the round of the Europa League.”
The French Interior Ministry highlighted that the ongoing state of emergency and the upcoming UN climate summit in Paris will require police forces to focus their attention away from football. Earlier this week both Olympique Lyon and AS Monaco prevented fans from AA Gent and Anderlecht respectively from attending European Cup fixtures in France.
UEFA has insisted that EURO2016 will go ahead as planned next year in France with the tournament expanding to 24 participating countries.
Ahead of their home game against Troyes, Paris Saint-Germain have announced heightened security measures. At the request of and in conjunction with the Prefecture of Police there will be a bigger security perimeter around the Parc des Princes stadium and tighter checks on fans, who won’t be allowed to carry bags with them. It will be PSG’s first home game since the atrocities and a special tribute will be paid to the victims.
In Brussels Belgium’s most decorated club Anderlecht were originally ordered to play their league fixture against OH Leuven behind closed doors this Sunday. But with an easing of the terror threat level by the Belgian government today, fans will now be allowed to attend. On Tuesday the Pro League decided to go ahead with all of this weekend’s fixtures after consultation with local authorities. Fans won’t be allowed to take bags or other possessions to the stadium and extra security checks will be in place.
Anderlecht mayor Eric Thomas ordered his local club to play their match without fans and in the afternoon rather than at 6pm during nightfall. In Brussels the terror alert has been lowered from level four to level three, but with the army and federal police patrolling the streets of the Belgian capital not enough security personnel can be deployed at Anderlecht’s game to ensure the safety of the fans.
This weekend Ghent will also host the final of the Davis Cup tennis between Belgium and Great Britain amid tightened security.
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