Madrid seeks tighter security for Marseille match

Madrid regional authorities Tuesday called for tighter security for the Atletico Madrid team and officials traveling to Marseille next week for a Champions League match, following email threats against the club.

The region’s official in charge of sports, Alberto Lopez Viejo, called on Spain’s interior ministry to take “all necessary measures to ensure the security of the Madrid delegation, as well as the players, the technical staff and the officials, as well as the supporters who decide to follow the team.”

Atletico president Enrique Cerezo last week warned supporters not to travel to Marseille for the December 9 tie, noting that the club has already qualified for the next round.

A spokeswoman for Atletico told AFP that “for several days” the club has received emails containing insults and death threats.

Clashes between Marseille supporters and police erupted at the start of a match between Atletico and the French club on October 1 at the Vicente Calderon stadium in the Spanish capital.

A Marseille supporter was arrested and is to go on trial in Madrid on Wednesday. The club’s supporters have been campaigning for his release.

“It would be better to take precautions than regret an incident afterwards, that’s why I hope that the government has taken note of the seriousness of the threats of some French supporters,” said Lopez Viejo.

Atletico were originally fined 150,000 euros and hit with a two-match stadium ban for Champions League matches by UEFA after their fans appeared to chant racist insults during the fixture against the French side on October 1.

European football’s governing body eventually halved the fine with the stadium ban cut to one game.