“Robust” policing plan needed for Europa League final says Andrews

Fianna Fáil MEP Barry Andrews has called for a “robust” policing plan as Dublin gears up to host the Europa League final in May. 

He has called for “comprehensive” policing arrangements to be put in place of the final which is due to be held on May 22nd.

In recent weeks UEFA boss Theodore Theodoridis has highlighted the potential challenges surrounding the Europa League final.

“Under certain conditions, because of the potential teams that could qualify, this might end up being the most challenging for us,” he said last week.

“We know they will bring a number of supporters without tickets and then there is the issue of potential public viewing venues.”

“There are a couple of pairings – I won’t speculate on the names but you are clever enough to work it out – that would be extremely challenging to find ways to accommodate everybody that will be present for that game.”

Croke Park may be designated as a fan zone by UEFA, with it’s 82,000 capacity able to host 30,000 more people than the Aviva, but there are fears that Dublin’s current policing strategies aren’t up to scratch and if the city can handle that many fans.

“Given the significant fan bases of the teams vying for the final, it is essential that adequate measures are in place to ensure safety and security. With the eyes of the footballing world set on Dublin, it is crucial to avoid incidents akin to the unfortunate events involving Liverpool fans in Paris during the 2022 Champions League final.”

Andrews cited the Europa League final in Seville in 2022, which was marked by clashes between Frankfurt and Rangers fans.

“We must take proactive steps to prevent Dublin from descending into chaos. We cannot afford a repeat of the scenes witnessed in Seville, where violence marred the event,” he said.

“While the economic benefits this game will have on Dublin will be immense, I cannot help but recall footage of fans clashing in the streets while locals ran for cover in the 2022 final. This cannot be the case in Dublin in May.”

In 2008, the UEFA Cup final between Rangers and Zenit St. Petersberg was overshadowed by a riot among fans in Manchester city centre which left 40 people injured.

Andrews stated that crowd control measures must be updated and put in place ahead of the final, noting the unprecedented convergence of fans in Dublin, with both the Aviva Stadium and potentially Croke Park set to be at capacity.

He noted that should teams like Rangers or Liverpool advance to the final and considering their proximity to Ireland, the overflow of supporters onto the streets and into bars could pose “significant challenges” for Dublin’s infrastructure.

Despite the concerns, Andrews said that while he would “love” his childhood team West Ham to play in the final, he said “the presence of Liverpool would undoubtedly energise the city, given their passionate Irish following.”