Juba Touabi, Media365, published on Tuesday April 30, 2024 at 10:03 p.m.
As the Europa League semi-final first leg between Olympique Marseille and Atalanta Bergamo approaches, the authorities have put in place reinforced security.
This Thursday evening at the Vélodrome stadium, security will be at the heart of concerns due to the announced presence of nearly 3,000 Italian supporters, including 200 to 300 considered at risk. To supervise these supporters, around 1000 police officers will be mobilized with the main objective of preventing any contact between the Marseille ultras and the Italian ultras. According to Rémi Bourdu, chief of staff of the Bouches-du-Rhône police prefect, Atalanta supporters will be transported to the stadium via a meeting point located outside the city center of Marseille. They will access the stadium by taking metro trains specially dedicated for this purpose, under police escort.
This security measure is similar to that implemented during the match against Benfica Lisbon on April 18, which also aimed to limit clashes in the city center and around the stadium. On the pitch, Olympique de Marseille, currently 7th in Ligue 1, are looking to end the season on a positive note after a disappointing domestic campaign. Jean-Louis Gasset’s players are determined to put themselves in the best possible conditions before the return match in Lombardy next week.
750 Marseille supporters in Bergamo on their return
The quota of places allocated to Marseille supporters for the return match is particularly low, with only 750 places available. This limitation is explained by the work underway at the Atalanta stadium, which has reduced its capacity to 14,000 seats. OM supporter groups will meet to discuss the arrangements for this trip and the restrictions imposed, although pessimism reigns as to the feasibility of this trip.
Tension between supporters of the two clubs makes the situation even more delicate, with strict measures imposed by Italian authorities for the second leg, including a ban on French citizens being in the stadium, except for the car park. official. These measures aim to avoid incidents and ensure that football remains at the heart of concerns.
