Chelsea fans warned of extra security ahead of Champions League clash in Paris
Tuesday 16 February 2016 14:03, UK
Chelsea fans are being urged to arrive early at the Parc des Princes for Tuesday's Champions League match against Paris St Germain.
Following the terrorist attacks in Paris last November where the France v Germany football match at the Stade de France was targeted, French police will conduct a huge security operation involving several thousand personnel.
The authorities want to learn how to best police large football crowds ahead of Euro 2016 in France this summer.
The police and security services have already employed a number of new tactics at France's two home Six Nations rugby internationals at the Stade de France, but have earmarked Chelsea's visit to Paris as an opportunity to see how football crowds behave.
Fans will encounter three layers of security before they can get to their seats with the police responsible for the first two layers outside the stadium while private security will perform further checks once fans have entered the stadium perimeter. Extra metal and explosive detectors will be used.
Victoriano Melero, deputy chief executive of the French football federation told Sky Sports News HQ that these measures will be used at all Euro 2016 matches later this year.
"The attacks last year changed a lot," Melero said. "But we had a robust security programme in place already. What we are now doing is reinforcing it.
"All the partners are working together, the public forces, the police and private forces. We will have three layers of security outside stadiums."
Euro 2016 will use 10 venues for the championships this summer. Tens of thousands of football supporters from the British Isles are expected to travel to France as England, Wales and Northern Ireland have all qualified as well as the Republic of Ireland.
Ziad Khoury, head of security for Euro 2016 is confident the tournament will be safe: "For the first time at a Euros a memorandum of understanding has been agreed between the Interior Ministry and Euro 2016 organisers, we are working well together," he said.
"I work for the Ministry, but am now here with the Euros, we are working very hard and I believe I can ensure the safety of supporters."
