The ongoing terrorist threat in France and Belgium is still having an impact on European sporting fixtures, with not just tennis but rugby and football being affected.
Supporters of Belgian football club Ghent have been banned from travelling to Tuesday night’s Champions League tie at Lyon as a result of the attacks that killed 130 people in Paris on Nov 13 and amid fears or similar outrages in Belgium. One of the men involved in the attacks on the French capital reportedly fled to Brussels.
The French Interior Minister announced in a statement that the main reason for depriving fans from attending the match at the Stade Gerland was that police forces were too stretched.
“The attacks on Nov 13 have lifted the security alert to the highest level against the threat of terrorism and security forces cannot be diverted by this priority to deal with issues relating to the behaviour of supporters,” read the statement.
There is also a history of violence between the two club’s supporters, who clashed during the first group match on Sept 16 in Belgium. However, other domestic fixtures in Belgium were played but Anderlecht’s game away to Lokeren was called off because a high police presence in Brussels meant security could not be guaranteed in the Flanders town.
Britain's Davis Cup tie with Belgium is in doubt
In France, away fans were also banned from travelling to Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 football matches this weekend. As in Belgium, the increasing demands being put on security forces across the country were given as a reason for the restrictions.
Both adults and children were stringently searched on their way into grounds. Heavy objects were not allowed inside, and some metal detectors were, but the attitude from spectators was co-operative.
The Lorient v Paris Saint-Germain clash took place despite initial concerns the visiting side would not be in the right frame of mind to play. Thousands of French tricolour flags were flown at Le Moustoir stadium - as they were at other French grounds - and 11 doves of peace were released before kick-off. “It was important to show the solidarity of France, or Paris,” PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi said. “Of course everyone was affected. It was very hard for us, but life must go on.”
The French national anthem, La Marseillaise was played at Wembley
The French national anthem, La Marseillaise, was played before Premier League games in England and Wales over the weekend while Scottish side Hamilton Academical wore France strips in their 1-1 Ladbrokes Premiership draw against Aberdeen yesterday as a tribute to the Paris attack victims.
With both clubs having the same red-and-white colours and a number of kit combinations clashing, Hamilton took advantage of the need for a different solution to show “sympathy and solidarity with the people of France” by wearing an all-white French away strip.
Security measures for Bundesliga games were stepped up after the cancellation of Germany’s friendly with Holland in Hannover last Tuesday.
Police, some armed with machine guns, maintained a visible presence at all stadiums. Fans were checked, bags were searched and the increased measures led to Stuttgart’s game with Augsburg being delayed by 15 minutes. Fans had been advised to arrive earlier for games because of the increased measures.
Germany vs Holland was cancelled last week
Fans reacted with sympathy and compassion for the victims of the Paris attacks, displaying banners saying “freedom” and “equality” and all games were preceded by a minute’s silence.
The tribute was especially poignant for Hamilton’s French striker Christian Nade, whose 18-year-old sister hid under the table of a restaurant in Paris after gunmen opened fire in the neighbouring cafe.
In rugby, Munster’s European Champions Cup clash away to Stade Francais at the Stade Jean-Bouin did not go ahead yesterday because the French side were unwilling to stretch government and security personnel at a time of heightened tensions in the city. Three suicide bombers and a bystander died outside the Stade de France during the Paris attacks.
Toulon, having called off their tie with Bath last week - one of six European ties to be postponed - returned to Champions Cup action yesterday at Wasps.
In the Belgian town of Ghent, the venue for Britain’s Davis Cup tie later this week, the Ghent Six, a large annual cycling competition, passed off without incident.
Further afield, the International Cricket Council has a security firm weighing up whether it is safe for visiting teams to go to Bangladesh for the Under-19s World Cup in January. Two foreigners have been killed by Al Qaeda in recent months in Bangladesh and the Australian team pulled out of a tour to the country in October.
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