PSP classifies Tuesday and Saturday’s Lisbon derbies as “high risk”

The Public Security Police (PSP) considered the games between Benfica and Sporting, on Tuesday, for the second leg of the semi-finals of the Portuguese Football Cup, and Saturday, of the 28th round, to be “high risk”. of the I League.

In a press conference, held at the Metropolitan Command of Lisbon, superintendent Isaac Figueira de Chaves considered that: “These games are considered by the APCVD (Authority for the Prevention and Combat of Violence in Sports) as high-risk games and capacity is expected complete set of stadiums [da Luz, na terça-feira, e José Alvalade, no sábado]”.

The person in charge ensured the readiness of the police forces, for the confluence of fans from both clubs, at the Estádio da Luz, in Lisbon, on Saturday, despite the derby of the I Football League being scheduled for Alvalade.

In addition to the game between the two Lisbon teams, the ‘reds’ venue will also host a basketball derby, at 3pm, and the handball derby between Benfica and FC Porto, at 5pm, before the football championship match.

The Benfica fans’ walk to the José Alvalade Stadium, stage of the derby of the 28th round of the I League, at 8:30 pm, is scheduled for 4:00 pm.

“The police have planned an operation that takes several variables into account. Therefore, given this situation, appropriate policing will be carried out”, said the superintendent.

Figueira de Chaves admitted he was confident about Benfica’s welcome to Sporting, for the second leg of the Portuguese Cup semi-finals. The head of the PSP recalled the policing of the last derby, on February 29, which was successful and without major incidents.

“The procedure will be replicated, and there is a difference between being a game during the week or on the weekend,” he said.

The PSP recommended that fans arrive at the stadium in advance, suggesting the use of public transport, reinforcing that the doors of Estádio da Luz will be open from 6:45 pm.

Sporting fans will meet at 4pm at the José Alvalade Stadium, and then begin the march towards the meeting stage, under the police school.

The steward also said, regarding the more than 420 fans who were banned from entering sports venues in 2023, that: “We have a list, we know who the fans are who have these measures and they will be prevented from entering the stadium or even to get closer. Ticket requests, upon entry, are seen and those people who have this type of measure are caught, who are known to the police and, if approached nearby, are also asked not to enter the stadium”