The Islamic State terrorist group launched a threat against the Parque de los Príncipes, the Santiago Bernabéu, the Metropolitano and the Emirates Stadium, the four stadiums that will host the quarterfinals of the Champions League.
The situation set off alarm bells among UEFA authorities. This Monday, the media that is responsible for disseminating the messages of the Islamic State known as the Al Azaim foundation, published the flyer of an armed man with his face covered with a balaclava, accompanied by the names of the stadiums that will host the quarterfinals. of the Champions League and a forceful phrase: “Kill them all“.
Islamic State is nothing less than the terrorist group that carried out the latest attack in the middle of a concert at Moscow’s Crocus City Hall that left 143 dead and nearly 200 injured.
In Madrid, there is a situation of maximum alert since both Real Madrid and Atlético will be protagonists of this instance of the Champions League. The city Government Delegation had already classified the matches as “high risk” with a large operation with more than three thousand troops.
The number seems to be small, compared to the 8,000 City fans who will arrive this Tuesday, added to the threat of the terrorist group.
After the attack in Moscow, football seems to be the point chosen by fundamentalist groups. A week ago, the Sarh al-Khilafah media outlet, in this case, the broadcaster of the terrorist group ISIS, published an image calling for an attack on the audience of the Allianz Arena in Munich. It was March 30, the day Bayern Munich vs Borussia Dortmund was played.
At the time, German security forces had announced at the time that they were going to reinforce an already strong security operation with the presence of “additional agents.”
Other antecedents of terrorism
It is not the first time that terrorist threats have entered the world of football and nor the first time that involves Orejona. Already in 2017, in the Champions League final between Real Madrid and Juventus, the roof of the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff had to remain closed for fear of drones carrying explosives entering.
In 2023, a European Championship Qualifying match between Belgium and Sweden had to be suspended due to the murder of two Scandinavian fans who were in the center of Brussels hours before the match. The game was 1-1 at halftime and both teams refused to play the ST.
When are the quarterfinal matches played?
In London, Arsenal will host Bayern Munich at their home on Tuesday at 4pm to try to strike a blow against the Bavarians who need the Champions League to win a title this season. A little further south, Real Madrid and Manchester City meet at the same time to break the tie in their recent history, in which they were eliminated once each and then became champions.
Also in Madrid, Atlético del Cholo opens the doors of the Metropolitano on Wednesday at the same time to face Borussia Dortmund, with a squad full of Argentines and the hope of winning their first Champions League. On the other side of the Pyrenees, there will be no French love when PSG goes against Barcelona in the Parc des Princes, in a duel that recalls the footsteps of King Messi.
