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The Union of European Football Association (UEFA) released a statement confirming that the Champions League quarterfinal fixtures, starting on April 9, w ill be played as scheduled despite threats from the Islamic State group (ISIS). These threats were via the media outlet Al Azaim Foundation, backed by the Islamic State (Daesh, ISIS).
The Al Azaim Foundation shared a poster which included the names of four stadiums - the Parc des Princes, Santiago Bernabéu, Metropolitano, and Emirates Stadium, scheduled to host the first leg of the quarter-finals clashes in the UCL, with the message, "Kill them all."
All matches are planned to go ahead as scheduled: UEFA
Addressing this threat, the footballing governing body's statement said, as quoted by ESPN, "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. All matches are planned to go ahead as scheduled with appropriate security arrangements in place."
ESPN also received a statement from Spain's interior ministry which confirmed that the local authorities have ensured all measures to prevent any such incidents. The statement said, "The State Security agencies have designed an operational deployment in which more than 2,000 National Police and Civil Guard agents will participate, to which members of Madrid's Municipal Police will be added, to ensure the correct development of the two sporting events taking place today [Tuesday] and tomorrow [Wednesday] in the capital."
"This deployment is coordinated and has the support provided for in the measures that, throughout the territory of the State, establishes the Anti-Terrorist Prevention, Protection and Response Plan for the current level 4 out of 5 of anti-terrorist alert, to which various measures have also been added to prevent these type of contingencies."
UCL QF 2023-24: ARS vs BAY, RMA vs MNC, PSG vs FCB, ATM vs BRD
In the UCL quarter-final first leg, Premier League giants Arsenal are scheduled to host German champions Bayern Munich at the Emirates Stadium. At the same time, record 14-time UCL champions Real Madrid will host defending champions Manchester City at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, French giants Paris Saint-Germain will host Xavi's Barcelona at the Parc des Princes. Simultaneously, the third Spanish club in quarters, Atletico de Madrid will host Bundesliga's Borussia Dortmund at the Civitas Metropolitan Stadium.
