The municipality of Alkmaar wants to prevent riots between hooligans during the ‘risk match’ against Legia Warsaw and is taking measures. Polish supporters are only allowed to travel to and from the stadium in regulated transport. To get a ticket, fans have to go to an exchange point outside the city.
AZ will play the first home match against Legia Warsaw in the group stage of the Europa Conference League on Thursday, October 5 at 9 p.m. To prevent confrontations between supporters, several scenarios have been prepared, Mayor Anja Schouten said in a letter to the city council. “Having a good overview of the travel movements of Legia Warsaw supporters is important.”
In order to ensure that Polish supporters can travel to the stadium in a regulated manner, the municipality is working on a so-called exchange point outside the city. “This means that Polish supporters will receive their ticket for the match at a pre-specified location and time and will be taken directly to the stadium from that location.”
No fan zone
Legia supporters do not have to count on a special fan zone at the Paardenmarkt. This was previously discussed during risk matches Lazio Roma and the Cypriot Apollon Limassol chosen. Preparations are now being made in the city center for Alkmaar Relief, so according to the municipality there is no room for that this time.
Additional safety measures also apply in and around the AZ stadium. The police deployment during the match falls under the command of the Large-Scale and Special Operations Staff (SGBO).
‘Razor’
According to the mayor, certain Legia Warsaw supporters “have such a profile that the (football) triangle considers the match a high-risk match.” The hard core of Legia Warsaw is also called ‘Zyleta’, the razor, and does not have the best reputation within the football world.