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9th April 2024
02:26pm BST
Bayern Munich fans will be banned from Arsenal's Emirates stadium for the Champions League game.
Reigning champions Manchester City are set to on Real Madrid tonight as they continue their quest to defend their Champions League crown.
Meanwhile, Arsenal are going up against Bayern Munich. This will be the Gunners’ first Champions League quarter final appearance since 2010.
The other two ties will see Atletico Madrid face Borussia Dortmund and PSG will do battle with Barcelona.
However, the Bayern v Arsenal quarter final will see the Gunners have a huge advantage, with Bayern fans set to be banned from Emirates stadium.
It comes after fans of the German side threw fireworks onto the pitch during their game against Lazio last month, which they won 3-1.
Additionally, the team faced a fine of €40,000 after playing FC Copenhagen last year when they won 2-1 following fans' fireworks throwing.
The side were issued a suspended single match ban for fans being able to purchase tickets for away games after the incident at Lazio.
"We have to accept this punishment. Not only were pyrotechnics set off, but also fired deliberately onto the field, directly endangering bystanders," Jan-Christian Dreesen the club's CEO said, via Evening Standard.
"This was such an explicit violation of the conditions of probation that an appeal is unfortunately futile.
"The fact we now have to play away without the support of our fans is a big blow. A small group of individual offenders have done a disservice to all our supporters and the team.”
There is set to be heightened security surrounding the Champions League games that are going ahead tonight.
A new statement issued by UEFA announced increased security around the games after a media outlet linked to IS reportedly made threats to all four of the games set to go ahead this week.
“UEFA is aware of alleged terrorist threats made towards this week’s UEFA Champions League matches and is closely liaising with the authorities at the respective venues,” they said, via Sky News.
“All matches are planned to go ahead as scheduled with appropriate security arrangements in place.”
The pro-IS outlet called for violent attacks alongside images of Emirates Stadium, as well as Madrid’s Bernabeu Stadium and Metropolitano Stadium, and the Parc des Princes Stadium in Paris.
Reports indicate that Real Madrid’s stadium roof will be closed, and over 2,000 national police and civil guard agents will be undertaking surveilence.
The French interior minister Gerald Darmanin said they had “considerably reinforced” security in Paris after Islamic State’s “threat”.
“We have seen, among others, a communication from the Islamic State which is particularly aimed at stadiums,” he said.
He continued: “I will remind you that only 10 days ago, IS shared a picture of the Munich stadium and said action should be taken against sports venues that host football games – although all sports can be targeted. Given how important the Champions League is for football, we are of course talking to our partners.”
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