More than 5,500 police and private security officers will be mobilised to guarantee public safety for this Wednesday’s Europa Cup final in Seville.
More than 100,000 Rangers fans are expected to descend on the southern Spanish city as the club prepares for its first European final in 14 years, despite ticketless supporters being warned not to make the journey.
Around 60,000 Eintracht fans are set to head to Seville.
Spanish government officials in the area revealed today the numbers of local police, Civil Guard and National Police officers being drafted in to try to keep the peace along with private security officers would total more than 5,500.
The numbers emerged as Carlos Toscano, government sub-delegate in Seville, said he was “confident” coordination by the different forces of law and order involved in the operation would ensure it went smoothly.
The National Police, one of Spain’s two national police forces, will provide around 3,000 officers including riot squad officers specialising in rapid response and bomb disposal experts.
The Civil Guard, the other national police force, have been tasked with security at Seville’s San Pablo Airport and the roads leading into and out of the city, as well as monitoring social media to try to detect problems before they occur.
The city’s Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium, which is staging Wednesday night’s final, is providing more than 1,000 private security officers whose job will include making sure fans do not access the ground with flares.
The “pre-critcal” phase of the security operation will begin tomorrow at 8am and last until Wednesday at 3pm.
The “critical” phase will begin at 3pm on Wednesday and last until 9pm.
A spokesman for the Spanish government sub-delegation in Seville confirmed today: “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.
“The National Police will provide around 3,000 officers, with groups which will include Prevention and Reaction units, bomb disposal group TEDAX, aerial units and mounted police.
“The Civil Guard will be in charge of security at San Pablo Airport and the transfer of the teams and their officials from the airport to the city.
“They will also monitor social media to detect any issue that could alter the normal development of the event before it occurs.”
The government sub-delegation in Seville added in a statement: “The Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium will provide 1,210 private security officers and assistants, a number which could increase, as well as 24 dogs and guides specialising in the detection of pyrotechnic material and drugs.”
The fan zone for Rangers supporters is next to La Cartuja stadium, a multi-purpose stadium situated on an island in Seville’s Guadalquivir River.
Eintract’s fan zone is in the scenic area around Prado de San Sebastian.
Rangers fans have been told they can watch the match on a giant screen inside La Cartuja Stadium but no alcohol will be sold there.
As well as police reinforcements at the city airport, extra police will monitor Seville’s Santa Justa train station and the area around the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium where Wednesday’s final will be played.
Speaking about the “critical” phase of the operation between 3pm and 9pm on Wednesday when the match is due to start, the spokesman for the Spanish government sub-delegation said: “A public order and anti-terrorist operation will be established during this phase, with special attention given to the stadium and areas where fans are congregated.
“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.”
It will be Rangers' first continental final since Manchester in 2008 when there were serious scenes of disorder ahead of the UEFA Cup Final with Zenit.
Rangers legend Graeme Souness has urged the club's fans to stay out of trouble in a video message.
The 69-year-old said: "Go there, have a super time. Support your team. Our team has done incredibly well in getting there. And you think the journey we’ve been on for the last ten years to be now planning a serious European Cup final. Fantastic achievement.
“They’ve done their bit. Now it’s your turn. You have to turn up there and behave yourselves. Have a party, but make sure you behave yourselves because you’re going there as an ambassador for our football club, our great football club, the great Glasgow Rangers.
“You must go there and behave. Otherwise, we got all the trashy headlines which would damage us for a long, long time. Please go there and behave yourselves. Have a super time."
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