Football crime thriller in Tirana: enormous security, excitement guaranteed!

Football crime thriller in Tirana: enormous security, excitement guaranteed!

Tirana, the capital of Albania, is preparing for a high-risk World Cup qualifier between Albania and Serbia. The match will take place on Saturday at 8:45 p.m. at the Air Albania Stadium. Given the tense political situation and the mutual rivalry, around 2,000 police officers will be on duty to ensure everything runs smoothly. A comprehensive security concept was put into effect, which includes, among other things, a ban on drones and stricter entry controls.

The atmosphere around the game is made even more tense by a provocative social media post from former Albanian international Mergim Mavraj. He said on Instagram: "The war is over. Kosovo will be ours forever. Now play football."

The past shapes the present

The security precautions are necessary not only because of the rivalry between the two nations, but also because of their recent past. A planned attack on the World Cup qualifying match between Albania and Israel in November 2016 was foiled by the police in Kosovo. At that time there were attacks by 24 terrorist suspects who were apparently connected to the Islamic State (IS). This group planned several attacks and was responsible for the presence of explosive devices and weapons in the homes of those arrested.

Past experiences also have an impact on the security concepts of current games. Different safety standards were identified at the European Football Championship, which pose a certain risk. Reports show that there have been lax inspections, which raises concerns.

The police measures in Tirana therefore appear to be part of a strategic approach to control possible aggression and ensure that the game takes place without incident. A system of blacklists identifying people with “terrorist tendencies” is also used.

Future of security measures

UEFA has also implemented state-of-the-art technologies to increase security in the stadiums. At the EM, for example, scanners are used to monitor access for journalists. However, the question remains whether these measures are sufficient to ensure security in tense contexts such as the upcoming match between Albania and Serbia.

Pre-match preparations and security measures are more than just a response to potential danger - they are a painstaking effort to ensure the safety of players and fans in an environment marked by historical conflict. The World Cup qualifier will show whether the measures taken are sufficient to ensure a safe and fair sporting event.