Spanish police detain high-risk River fan at Madrid airport
Spanish police have stopped a second fan considered to be dangerous ahead of the Copa Libertadores final on Sunday.
Spanish police denied entry to a River Plate fan at Madrid’s Barajas Airport this Friday at 15.30 (CET), as he tried to enter the Spanish capital to see Sunday’s Copa Libertadores between Boca Juniors and River Plate.
This was the second high-risk fan to be stopped at Madrid airport ahead of Sunday’s final, as the police take extensive precautionary measures to avoid any violent incidents involving radical opposing fans from the two Argentine clubs.
On Wednesday night, the authorities stopped and later deported Mazi Mazzaro, one of the leaders of the Boca Barras Bravas (ultras). In a twitter post, the Policia Nacional said they deported Mazzaro on the grounds that he was “one of the most dangerous” Barras Bravas members and had an "extensive criminal record".
At present there is no further information on the River Plate fan that was detained this Friday, only that the police are processing the necessary paperwork in order to send him back to Argentina as soon as possible.
Of the thousands of Argentinean fans in Madrid for the final, there are several hundred supporters of both clubs that Spanish police consider to be dangerous, and, as such, extra security measures and a large police contingent will be deployed at the Santiago Bernabeu for the game.
Fans of both teams have been advised to arrive well before kick off to avoid any delays entering the stadium because of security checks. The match kicks off at the Santiago Bernabéu at 20:30 (CET), with the stadium gates opening three hours in advance.
