The match between Real Madrid and Olympique de Marseille, corresponding to the first matchday of the UEFA Champions League, was accompanied by a significant deployment of security due to the presence of almost 4,000 French fans in the Spanish capital.

Get 20% off on UEFA Champions League broadcasts in Spanish by DAZN.

The Government Delegation in the Community of Madrid organized an operation with 1,873 officers, made up of officers from the National Police, the Police Intervention Unit (UIP), the Special Cavalry Unit, the Provincial Information Brigade, as well as the Municipal Police, Mobility officers, and SAMUR (Civil Protection) personnel. The objective was to prevent incidents and guarantee the progress of the match at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium.

Despite the measures, altercations were reported in the vicinity of the stadium hours before kick-off. According to official sources, Olympique de Marseille fans had displayed violent behavior during the metro journey and later in the vicinity of the Bernabeu, which led to the intervention of riot police.

Access controls and prohibited items

The operation included exhaustive controls on the 3,800 French fans with tickets. The fans were divided into groups and escorted by a police cordon to the stadium entrance, where Real Madrid's private security carried out strict searches.

Items such as power banks, e-cigarettes, lighters, and bottles were confiscated. The controls also included requiring fans to remove their shirts and shoes to rule out any items that could compromise security inside the venue.

Another point of attention was the entry of Palestinian flags, which were removed in several cases by the club's security personnel. Some fans protested the measure and sang pro-Palestine chants around the stadium. Despite the controls,Flags were seen in the visiting stands throughout the match.