Two thousand supporters in Germany for the Europa League semi-final against Bayer Leverkusen
May 18 – Cologne (Germany)
True, the match is being played in Leverkusen, but for now it is Cologne – practically joint to the center that houses the Bayer factory – that is the heart of the invasion of Roma supporters, who will be banned from drunkenness. We’ll see how. However, about two thousand supporters are arriving, who will then move to the BayArena in the afternoon, after two concentrations scheduled for the early afternoon: one in a park on the outskirts of Cologne, one in the actual fan zone located in Leverkusen. Two thousand, we said. But the impression is that everyone is here as a transfer stage in view of the real away game, the one with a capital “t”, which will take place on May 31 in Budapest, home of the Europa League final. To the two thousand, in that case, it will be necessary to add at least one zero, because the Giallorossi fans to move in that case will be over twenty thousand, given that the Puskas Arena contains about sixty thousand, to be divided with the rivals and with the seats left to UEFA.
Anti alcohol rules
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But today Roma fans will have to undergo stringent checks of different kinds. For example, many will have to undergo an alcohol test. A sort of breathalyzer that will ban entry to the stadium to those close to the drunkenness threshold. It will probably be impossible for everyone to do it, but random checks will not be lacking, as will the possible consequences. Meanwhile, it is also remembered that smoking will be prohibited in the BayArena. Electronic cigarettes will also be banned, but even here – in the pathos of the match – we imagine that the controls will not be easy. In any case, given that it is a public holiday in Germany – it is Ascension Day which coincides with Father’s Day, the day in which Germans traditionally like to drink more than usual – many shops are closed. This must be why the yellow and red of the many scarves that can be seen around, especially around the majestic cathedral of Cologne, seem to stand out more vividly than usual.
18 maggio – 12:15
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