MADRID, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Regional and Municipal Police, the Bilbao local authority and Athletic Club Bilbao on Wednesday put into effect the biggest security operation the city of Bilbao has ever seen for a sporting event ahead of Athletic Club's Europa League tie at home to Spartak Moscow on Thursday night.
Around 2,500 Spartak fans, including a group of several hundred of the club's notorious 'Ultras' who have a far right-wing ideology are expected in the city to watch the game in which Spartak have to overturn a 3-1 defeat they suffered to the Basque outfit in Moscow a week ago.
Only this season Spartak's Ultras were involved in violent incidents in Seville ahead of a Champions League tie and on Monday night a small group were involved in a violent attack on a shop owner in the nearby city of Vitoria and as a consequence, 600 police: 500 Ertzaintzas (Basque regional police) and 100 municipal police will be on duty along with 200 private security guards at Athletic Club Bilbao's San Mames Stadium.
The local media reports this is twice the number of people who would usually oversee security at such an event.
Tuesday saw the Ertzaintza pubish a series of measures for bars and restaurants, asking them to serve drinks in plastic glasses and to avoid the use of glass containers or bottles as well as to retire pavement tables due to the risk of possible incidents.
Athletic Club Bilbao president Josu Urrutia meanwhile appealed for calm and highlighted the good reception their fans received on their visit to Moscow a week ago.
