Security measures will be heightened at the European Championship to prevent fans from accessing players on the field, following an incident where at least six fans attempted to take selfies with Cristiano Ronaldo. UEFA announced on Sunday that additional safety protocols will be implemented across the 10 stadiums in Germany to address this issue. The specific details of the enhanced plan were not disclosed, but intruders who breach security will face criminal prosecution.
UEFA emphasized that any unauthorized entry onto the pitch violates stadium regulations and will result in immediate expulsion, a ban from all tournament matches, and the initiation of formal criminal charges for trespassing. The recent incident occurred during Portugal's 3-0 victory over Turkey, where four fans managed to approach Ronaldo on the field, with more attempts made after the match concluded in Dortmund.
While the fans appeared to have harmless intentions of taking photos, the primary objective of the tournament's security strategy is to safeguard players from potential harm. Several matches at Euro 2024 have witnessed fans invading the field, including an instance where a spectator carrying a camera came within close proximity to Belgium's Kevin De Bruyne during a game against Slovakia in Frankfurt.
Notably, a monetary incentive offered by a YouTube presenter was identified as the motivation behind multiple field intrusions at the recent Champions League final organized by UEFA in London. With two games played on Sunday, Euro 2024 will have reached the halfway mark, with 26 out of the 51 scheduled matches completed so far.
For more information on Euro 2024, visit AP Euro 2024.
