UEFA acknowledged the existence of threats from the Islamic State against Champions League matches, but warned that it will not make changes to the programming.
The governing body of European football, the UEFAhe said he is aware of a terrorist threat related to the Champions League quarterfinal matches this week, but he said that the games will develop as planned.
A post on social media, supposedly from the group Islamic Statesuggested that planned to attack the headquarters of the first leg matches of the quarter finals from Champions League this week.
The Santiago Bernabéu receives a visit from Manchester City today Angel Martinez/Getty Images
On Tuesday, Arsenal host Bayern Munich at the Etihad Stadium de Londres and Real Madrid plays against Manchester City in the stadium Santiago Bernabéu of Madridwhile on Wednesday, Paris Saint-Germain faces Barcelona in the Princes Park in Paris and Atlético de Madrid receives Borussia Dortmund in the stadium Wanda Metropolitano of Madrid.
France’s Interior Ministry confirmed there will be an increased police presence in Paris on Wednesday in response to the threat, while Spain’s Interior Ministry said there will be more than 2,000 additional security personnel in line with typical operations for a important soccer game.
“UEFA is aware of the alleged terrorist threats made against this week’s UEFA Champions League matches and is in close contact with the authorities at the respective venues,” the governing body said in a statement to ESPN. “All matches are expected to take place as planned with appropriate safety measures in place.”
ESPN has approached London’s Metropolitan Police for comment.
The Spanish Ministry of the Interior informed ESPN in a statement: “The State Security agencies have designed an operational deployment in which more than 2,000 agents from the National Police and the Civil Guard will participate, to which members of the Municipal Police of Madrid, to guarantee the correct development of the two sporting events that will take place today [martes] and tomorrow [miércoles] in the capital.
“This deployment is coordinated and has the support provided for in the measures that, throughout the territory of the State, establish the Anti-Terrorist Prevention, Protection and Response Plan for the current level 4 out of 5 of anti-terrorist alert, to which have also been added various measures to prevent this type of contingencies.”
Meanwhile, French media reported that the country’s Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said he is aware of the threat from the Islamic State and has organized increased security measures.
“We have seen, among others, a message from the Islamic State that especially targets stadiums, which is not new,” Darmanin told reporters on Tuesday. “The police chief, who I spoke to very early this morning, has significantly beefed up security resources.”
PSG coach Luis Enrique made reference to the terrorist threat in a press conference on Tuesday.
“Who is not worried or worried about terrorist threats? I hope it is something that we can control, that it will only be a threat and nothing more,” said Luis Enrique.
Reporting by ESPN’s Alex Kirkland contributed to this report.