Greek authorities have deployed more than 5,000 police officers and fire fighters and suspended traffic in areas across Athens in a major security operation as they prepare to host the Europa Conference League final, officials said on Wednesday.
Local side Olympiacos take on Italy’s Fiorentina in what will be the first time in more than half a century that a Greek club will play in a European final.
Greece, which has been marred by sports violence on and off the pitch, has been preparing for weeks for the match, to take place at the Agia Sophia stadium, home of Olympiacos’s rivals AEK Athens, in a northwestern suburb of the city.
“It is a sports’ celebration which we must protect and make sure that it is conducted flawlessly,” said Attica Police Chief Ioannis Skouras, speaking on Monday.
Senior police officials held meetings with UEFA security experts in Athens earlier this month and studied measures at a match that took place in Belgium, to draft a robust policing plan, one of the officials said.