England vs Argentina World Cup Semi-Final Classified as 'Highest Risk' Match
The FBI, FIFA, and local police have classified the upcoming World Cup semi-final between England and Argentina as the 'highest risk' match following a meeting to discuss the historical divide between the two nations and potential issues between rival supporters.
A series of security measures will be implemented in Atlanta, including separate gates for entry for the two sets of supporters. However, there will be no segregation inside the stadium. The FBI, FIFA, and police met on Monday to discuss the concerns over potential issues between rival supporters. While considerable efforts will be made to keep fans apart, there is an acceptance that there is little officials can do inside the stadium thanks to the lack of segregation at FIFA games. Special attention will be paid to concourse areas, where fans are expected to mix.
The tensions between the two nations have been evident throughout the tournament. Argentina's coach, Lionel Scaloni, has called for calm, despite the fact that his players have continuously sung a song referencing the Falkland Islands during their progression throughout the tournament. The song is a reference to the 1982 conflict between Argentina and Britain over the South Atlantic islands, which resulted in the loss of 907 lives. Argentina's foreign minister has restated their claim over the territory, which was swiftly rejected by Sir Keir Starmer. England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford has sounded a similar note, urging fans to focus on the football and not let the historical divide get in the way. "It is just a game of football and two passionate sets of fans going there to watch a top-level game," he said.
The security measures will also include a heavy police presence outside each team hotel and a major focus in the area around the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where many of the fans are expected to congregate. There is a huge Argentinian diaspora in the US, with thousands due to travel to the game from Florida. Officials expect a 50-50 situation in the stadium, but England's fans may well find themselves outnumbered in the city itself. The situation is set to be a challenging one for both sets of fans and officials.
The World Cup has a history of tense matches between England and Argentina. In 1986, Argentina defeated England 2-1 in a Mexico World Cup quarter-final, when Diego Maradona scored the infamous 'Hand of God' goal. A small team from the UK Football Policing Unit is in the US and has been successfully liaising with local law enforcement agencies. The unit has praised the behaviour of England fans in previous matches, with only four arrests made around the England versus Norway game. One was for trying to gain entry without a ticket, one was a fan who refused to leave when asked to do so, and two were around a disturbance between two England fans.
The match between England and Argentina is set to be one of the most highly anticipated and closely watched matches of the tournament. With the historical divide between the two nations and the potential for tensions to rise, officials and fans alike will be keeping a close eye on the situation. The security measures in place are a testament to the efforts being made to keep fans safe and ensure that the match is a success.
Source: Daily Mail