Guarding the Goal

THE ACUTE THREAT POSED BY terrorism to innocent people around the world has forced the Portuguese authorities organising Euro 2004 to shift their primary security focus from hooliganism to a potential attack. The current international situation makes the championship a major target, especially following the bombings in nearby Madrid on March 11 and the level of international media attention the tournament will receive.

Euro 2004 is a contest between sixteen national teams and 368 players. Millions of fans worldwide are likely to tune in to an event expected to be covered by around eight thousand journalists. Over a million football fans are planning to visit Portugal. The presidents and prime ministers of victorious nations will add to the headaches by arriving to cheer their teams on.

The host nation of some twelve million inhabitants is on track with the promises it made: eight new football grounds have been built, and two other existing stadiums were refurbished at a cost of around $660 million. Some $4.8 billion has been spent altogether.

The crucial question is whether the country can guarantee security to the hundreds of football stars like David Beckham and Luis Figo as well as the fans that will follow their national teams. Even Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) President Lennart Johansson has acknowledged this: 'You can never say that nothing will happen...but the [police] forces and the football associations concerned will do their utmost to see that there will be a friendly championship.' The task may be more difficult because of strike threats from the immigration service and the police.

American ally

Portugal has been a key ally in the United States-led invasion of Iraq and the 'war' on terror. Prime Minister Jose Manuel Durao Barroso hosted a summit for American President George Bush, former Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar and British Prime Minister Tony Blair in the Island of Azores prior to the coalition invasion of Iraq, and has sent more than a hundred Republican National Guard (GNR) paramilitaries to southern Iraq.

The attack in Madrid showed that Spain, a nation with a long tradition of combating militant security threats, was unable to prevent the railway bombings. Portuguese Minister of Interior Antonio Figueiredo Lopes noted: 'After March 11, we re-evaluated the risks and immediately upgraded security. security planners are looking at a series of worst-case scenarios, including chemical attacks, subway bombings and suicide hijackings. We're preparing for every eventuality; you have to be ready for the worst.'

General Leonel Carvalho, coordinator of the security commission for the tournament said: 'Football fans visiting Portugal this summer will find a well-organised and safe nation.' The country is undertaking major security operations: special police units are being trained to end any possible hijack crisis, while the army will be on stand-by to offer logistical support to the police and protect transport links.

Ships from the Portuguese navy and fellow NATO nations will monitor the coast. NATO has also been approached to assist with surveillance planes, while the airforce is to patrol with F16 fighter jets. There will also be no-fly zones in areas where national teams are staying.

Portugal will suspend the Schengen agreement on formality-free cross-border travel in order to monitor closely those entering while the tournament is in progress. New laws are in place to remove any football fan from the country. Supporters showing signs of being over the alcohol limit for driving will be asked to take a breath test, and any exceeding the limit will be prevented from entering the stadium.

Autograph hunters will be kept away from players by the tight security planned for national teams. Around twenty thousand police officers will be on duty or stand-by, and close cooperation with other security forces across Europe is in place.

On the pitch

An integrated communications system to link all emergency services will not be commissioned in time for the championships. Although the authorities have provided substantial investment in new security equipment worth $20 million, police unions have expressed concern about shortages of manpower and poor communications. Officers have reportedly had to use their own mobile phones for police matters while on the beat, and have had to pay for uniforms and handcuffs.

Such weaknesses have led national teams to review their security arrangements: the French will include officers from the elite Reaction, Assistance, Intervention, Dissuasion force. Latvia and Greece, on the other hand, have decided to put their faith in the Portuguese arrangements.

Security inside the stadiums is clearly in need of improvement, as was evident at the last league derby between Sporting Club de Portugal and Sport Lisboa e Benfica, when fans invaded the pitch unchecked by security staff. The shift in attention from hooliganism to terrorism has paved the way for concerns about policing in town centres where large numbers of supporters are expected.

The Football Factory, a new British film about hooliganism released in mid-May, a month before the tournament starts, only increases such worries. President of the House of Commons all Party Football Group, Alan Keen, said: 'It is a shame that the movie is opening just before Euro 2004, warning that some fans may be influenced by the movie contents, which may cause some problems in Portugal.' English fans' behaviour in particular will be closely scrutinised by UEFA because any repetition of the Euro 2000 disturbances would result in the team's disqualification.

Portugal had five years to get ready for the event and completion of the new football venues was a major concern. But by February the last of the eight stadiums was formally opened with a friendly game between England and Portugal.

Although the International Olympic Committee has taken insurance cover of $170 million against possible cancellation of the Athens Olympics, UEFA will not follow suit, arguing: 'We did not feel it was necessary to get an insurance policy against cancellation. We are not facing the same situation [as] the Olympic Committee - the US is not playing in Euro 2004.' security forces are emphasising that there is no evidence of a terror network operating in the country.

Portugal has undertaken a major international marketing campaign to publicise the championship, as a way to revitalise the country's tourism industry. A chorus of complaints is emerging from ordinary Portuguese who see little benefit from the large sum being spent. But as in all footballing nations, such doubts are likely to be relegated to the sidelines once the starting whistle blows.