Europe’s domestic leagues return to action on Friday night after the international break, with security on high alert following the terrorist attacks in Paris last week.
All matches are planned to ahead as scheduled in Europe’s top leagues despite the cancellation of the friendlies in Belgium and Germany on Tuesday, although police and security forces will be out in force across the continent.
France
There will be tight security at Nice’s home match against Lyon on Friday as Ligue 1 resumes, although no away fans will be allowed to travel to games under guidelines laid out by junior sports minister Thierry Braillard. “Sporting competitions must continue because if we suspend them, that is what these barbaric people want, which is to destabilise our daily way of life,” he said.
League president Frederic Thiriez has explained that security forces are too stretched to allow fans to travel, meaning Paris Saint-Germain supporters will have to watch the current league leaders’ match against Lorient from afar. Fans who do attend games will be asked to join in the singing of La Marseillaise as a mark of respect to the victims in Paris.
England
Supporters are being advised to arrive earlier than usual to ensure that they make it through the extra security checks in time for kick-off. “We’ve been on high alert at Premier League games for a considerable amount of time,” said chief executive Richard Scudamore.
Spain
“There will be no problems or during the clásico or during other matches,” said La Liga’s president Javier Tebas. “Unfortunately, in our country we have a lot of experience in terrorism.”The 12th round of matches in La Ligafeatures the first clásico of the season on Saturday night and authorities have promised “draconian” security ahead of one of the most high-profile games on the planet. Any match between Real Madrid and Barcelona is always considered “high risk” but a triple security cordon is expected to be in force around the Santiago Bernabéu stadium in Madrid with more than 1500 policemen deployed.
Germany
The Bundesliga will have a full programme of fixtures despite the cancellation of Tuesday’s friendly against Holland in Hannover.“We have great confidence in the authorities who are responsible for security at federal and regional levels,” said the league’s president, Reinhard Rauball.
Increased security will be in force at all grounds with supporters warned to expect delays as they make their way into grounds. A minute’s silence will be observed before all matches this weekend, with players from Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 wearing black armbands.
Belgium
After the friendly against Spain in Brussels was cancelled due to a high-level of terror alert, there had been speculation that the Jupiler League programme would be cancelled. However, matches will go ahead with several clubs having already announced special security measures which include banning bags from being brought into the stadium and opening grounds earlier than usual.
“After contact with a member of authorised federal government to inform us about safety, I confirmed the decision to maintain our schedule. We must not change our way of life,” said general director Pierre François.
All player will wear black armbands and observe a minute’s silence, while Anderlecht have decided to cancel their youth day which had been planned to take place for the match against Lokeren. Charleroi have also cancelled a winter training camp in Turkey.