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Arsene Wenger Believes Terrorists Could Threaten Football
The Gunners boss believes London may be targeted again...
7 Mar 2009 22:02:24
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is surprised that football has not been targeted by terrorists following the terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team last month.
The Gunners boss fully believes that London's football stadiums could well be a target for terrorists and has warned the FA that more security measures have to be taken nationwide.
The incident in Sri Lanka evoked memories of a terrorist attack in Tokyo for Wenger when he was in charge of Grampus 8 in 1995 when terrorists gassed a subway in Japan's capital, resulting in 12 deaths and 1,000 casualties.
Speaking to The Times, Wenger said, "They put gas into the subway and people were killed. We heard they had bought helicopters from the Russian army and were planning to spread this gas over the whole city. It was a very worrying time."
Wenger also said he has expected trouble at a World Cup or European championship in the past.
"I’ve thought about it many times, especially at the World Cup and European Championship, and I am surprised football has never been targeted here. I don’t understand why it should just be happening in Pakistan. London could be a target, you never know," he said.
"You have to rely on the internal security of the country you are in and in England our teams don’t get a routine police escort before games any more. It’s more and more difficult to get one. They refuse."
The Gunners rely on the police to protect both themselves and the fans on matchdays, whereas Manchester United use special security service Controlled Event Solutions.
"As far as the players are concerned, I try to keep things as simple as possible," he explained.
"Otherwise you’ll have 20 staff and 11 players, then 25 staff and 11 players and so on. It would become too big. Apart from those playing the game, I try to involve as few people as possible. I don’t want a big security presence and five doctors. My attitude is, 'Let’s just go and play football'."
Wenger shockingly revealed that Emirates Stadium had had some security threats before a couple of games that had been kept quiet until now.
"We have had alerts before games at home and we’ve kept it quiet," Wenger revealed. "It has turned out to be nothing — like a bag in the stadium that somebody forgot."
Chelsea and Manchester United, like Arsenal, are also kept under close security measures when they arrive at a stadium and are guarded at all times.
Nick Turner, Goal.com
The Gunners boss believes London may be targeted again...
7 Mar 2009 22:02:24
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is surprised that football has not been targeted by terrorists following the terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team last month.
The Gunners boss fully believes that London's football stadiums could well be a target for terrorists and has warned the FA that more security measures have to be taken nationwide.
The incident in Sri Lanka evoked memories of a terrorist attack in Tokyo for Wenger when he was in charge of Grampus 8 in 1995 when terrorists gassed a subway in Japan's capital, resulting in 12 deaths and 1,000 casualties.
Speaking to The Times, Wenger said, "They put gas into the subway and people were killed. We heard they had bought helicopters from the Russian army and were planning to spread this gas over the whole city. It was a very worrying time."
Wenger also said he has expected trouble at a World Cup or European championship in the past.
"I’ve thought about it many times, especially at the World Cup and European Championship, and I am surprised football has never been targeted here. I don’t understand why it should just be happening in Pakistan. London could be a target, you never know," he said.
"You have to rely on the internal security of the country you are in and in England our teams don’t get a routine police escort before games any more. It’s more and more difficult to get one. They refuse."
The Gunners rely on the police to protect both themselves and the fans on matchdays, whereas Manchester United use special security service Controlled Event Solutions.
"As far as the players are concerned, I try to keep things as simple as possible," he explained.
"Otherwise you’ll have 20 staff and 11 players, then 25 staff and 11 players and so on. It would become too big. Apart from those playing the game, I try to involve as few people as possible. I don’t want a big security presence and five doctors. My attitude is, 'Let’s just go and play football'."
Wenger shockingly revealed that Emirates Stadium had had some security threats before a couple of games that had been kept quiet until now.
"We have had alerts before games at home and we’ve kept it quiet," Wenger revealed. "It has turned out to be nothing — like a bag in the stadium that somebody forgot."
Chelsea and Manchester United, like Arsenal, are also kept under close security measures when they arrive at a stadium and are guarded at all times.
Nick Turner, Goal.com
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