UEFA Conference League grand final, unprecedented security measures in Athens

Today, May 29, is the day of the big final of the Conference League. The match between Olympiacos and Fiorentina will take place at 22:00 at the AEK Stadium in Nea Philadelphia.

Truly draconian security measures have been introduced in the Greek capital, traffic rules and routes have been changed some types of public transport, tells CNN Greece.

ΕΛ.ΑΣ. has introduced special traffic rules in the municipalities of Nea Philadelphia-Nea Chalkidona, Nea Ionia, Metamorfosi and Athens, with the changes also affecting tram, electric and bus routes. Control has been tightened permanent residents and employees of Nea Philadelphia will be able to travel with accreditation.

Presented special travel plan for Olympiacos and Fiorentina fans to the stadium. To ensure the safe movement of fans, roads will be closed in both Faliro and the northern suburbs. Primary and secondary schools in the municipalities of Nea Philadelphia and Nea Ionia will also remain closed.

5,000 police officers will keep order, and the counter-terrorism service and the National Intelligence Service are on standby to avoid incidents or terrorist attacks.

The Greek authorities are in close cooperation with the Italian authorities in order to promptly prevent and respond to any incidents of violence by fans. There is also a ban on helicopter and drone flights in Attica. The ban directive is in effect from 14:00 on 29 May 2024 until 06:00 the following day.

Two collection points have been designated for fans of the two teamsthe so-called “fun meeting points”, and the traffic will be controlled by police escorts ΗΣΑΠ and buses ΟΣΥ, which will be allocated exclusively for this purpose.

Olympiacos fans who bought red tickets will gather in the vicinity of the Peace and Friendship Stadium (SEF) in Neo Faliro, which will be appropriately adapted to the meeting place for fans. They will be delivered gradually, starting at 18:30 in the afternoon, by ΗΣΑΠ trains without intermediate stops to Perissos station and then to the stadium in the presence of the police. The trains are used exclusively to transport fans and cannot be used by other citizens.

Fiorentina fans who have blue tickets will gather at another fan meeting point, at OAKA, and will be transported under strict security measures, accompanied by police officers, on ΟΣΥ buses to and from the stadium. Those with white tickets will travel from Irini and Thissio stations in the direction of Perissos without intermediate stops.

A special provision is made to serve spectators in wheelchairs or with limited mobility. The organizer will provide mini vans that will take them to and from Perissos station. Each spectator must have a personalized ticket and identification card.

Fans upon arrival at the stadium will be directed to the appropriate spectator access points and will be asked to present their ticket and identification and will be subject to physical screening.

Tickets received through the UEFA app comply with all relevant conditions and also contain information about items that fans are prohibited from carrying. If they are found in possession of any prohibited item, they will be removed from the match venue and taken to the police.

The departure of fans from the stadium will occur after instructions from the organizer’s staff and ΕΛ.ΑΣ. in reverse order: Olympiacos fans will go to ​ Perissos station, and Fiorentina fans will take the buses located on Dhekelias Avenue.

Similar attention is paid to the movement on the day of the match, accompanied by police, of athletes and members of delegations, competing teams, referees and official guests of the organizer.

By order of the police, in connection with the final football match of the UEFA European Conference League, special traffic rules will be introduced on metro line 1 and tram line:

Line 1 of the Kifissia – Piraeus metro will be open to the public from the start until 17:00. The last trains for passengers will depart:

• from Kifisia and Piraeus terminals at 17:00,
• from “Monastiraki” to “Kifissia” at 17:16:30 and to Piraeus at 17:34:30,
• from “Attica” to “Kifissia” at 17:24 and to “Piraeus” at 17:27
• from “Omonia” to “Kifissia” at 17:19 and to “Piraeus” at 17:32.

Line 1 will operate after 18:00 exclusively for fans. Metro lines 2 and 3 will operate as normal throughout the day.

Routes on line 7 “Kalamaki – Ag. Triad Piraeus” from 11 a.m. until later will have a terminal station at the “Neo Faliro” stop and will run on the “Kalamaki – Neo Faliro – Kalamaki” section.

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