Utrecht police to conduct preventive searches ahead of FC Utrecht vs. FC Porto match

Starting Wednesday evening, police in central Utrecht and around Galgenwaard Stadium are permitted to carry out preventive searches. This is ahead of FC Utrecht’s UEFA Europa League match against Portuguese side FC Porto on Thursday. Authorities have received signs that some supporters may be seeking violence.

Mayor Sharon Dijksma stated in a letter that the municipality expects FC Utrecht supporters to attend in “large numbers” on Thursday and possibly clash with Porto fans, who are estimated to take around 1,200 supporters, according to De Utrechtse Internet Courant. Among these are also “high-risk supporters,” according to the mayor.

The city center of Utrecht and the area around the stadium have been marked as a security risk zone. The designation is in effect from 6 p.m. Wednesday until the end of Thursday evening. Dijksma stated that the measure is “needed to limit the risk of heavy, illegal fireworks and (blunt) weapons being carried and used against others.”

Police have received information suggesting that the hardcore supporters intend to use heavy fireworks against law enforcement, while also seeking confrontation with the supporters from Portugal.

Dijksma further noted that during earlier matches against European teams, there was “extreme violence on both sides” between fan groups and directed at the police. The mayor is referring to the violence that occurred last month between FC Utrecht fans and supporters of the French club Olympique Lyonnais. Dijksma had designated safety risk zones for that game.

Utrecht have lost all their games thus far in the Europa League. FC Porto, who are managed by former Ajax manager Francesco Farioli, have won two out of their three games in the competition this season.