Armed police will provide additional patrols around Wembley tonight for a match that is expected to be a near-80,000 sell-out.
The Football Association reported yesterday that, rather than be deterred from attending, supporters had created an unusually high demand for tickets during the previous 48 hours.
It was also confirmed that the Duke of Cambridge, the FA president, would be in the Royal Box. David Cameron may also be at Wembley and the Prime Minister said yesterday that he would be willing to let his children attend the match.
Only around 100 ticket holders have asked to be refunded since the Paris atrocities on Friday that included three suicide bombs outside the Stade de France during France’s match against Germany.
“Had we been seeing tens of thousands wanting their money back, there would be a level of concern,” Martin Glenn, the FA chief executive, said. “But it’s been quite the opposite. The public have a desire to go to the game and the belief they will do that in a secure setting. People are determined to show their solidarity.”
Those fans have been warned of an enhanced police and security operation, although there has been no specific intelligence to suggest that the fixture will be targeted.
Glenn stressed that the FA agreed to the French Football Federation’s request for the match to take place only after following the security advice of the UK Government and the Metropolitan Police.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Peter Terry confirmed that there had been a review of policing following the Paris attacks.
“We want everyone coming along to know that our officers will be out there in increased numbers, to keep them safe,” he said. “This will include extra, highly visible armed officers who will be patrolling around Wembley Stadium. I would stress that our plans are purely precautionary and not as a result of any specific intelligence.”
No tickets will be sold at Wembley today. “Fans can be assured that all appropriate security measures are in place, which include extensive searches upon entrance to Wembley,” an FA spokesman said. “Fans should arrive as early as possible to avoid delays. It is preferable for supporters not to bring bags and there will be increased bag searches upon entrance.”
All 23 members of the France squad arrived in London yesterday and trained at Wembley last night, including the midfielder Lassana Diarra, who lost his cousin Asta
Diakité in the attacks, and the striker Antoine Griezmann, whose sister escaped unharmed from the massacre at the Bataclan theatre.
Didier Deschamps, the France manager, was confident that Euro 2016 would be safely staged. “Jacques Lambert, the head of the organising committee, made it very clear the Euros will take place in France,” Deschamps said.
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