Norway on Alert as Dinamo Zagreb Fans Arrive for Football Match

Norwegian police are implementing heightened security measures as they anticipate the arrival of Dinamo Zagreb's "Bad Blue Boys" fan group for a crucial Champions League playoff match. Viking, the Norwegian champions, will host Dinamo in Stavanger on Wednesday, with the winner advancing to the main tournament. The first leg ended in a 2-2 draw.

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It is known that they are relatively potent, if I may use that expression. They have a history that from a police perspective is not very nice. There have been incidents of noise, brawls, and unrest, and in some cases more serious events associated with this fan group.

Torleif Paulsen, head of the police task force, expressed concerns about the fan group's past behavior. "It is known that they are relatively potent, if I may use that expression," Paulsen stated. "They have a history that from a police perspective is not very nice. There have been incidents of noise, brawls, and unrest, and in some cases more serious events associated with this fan group."

Despite these concerns, Paulsen assured local fans that attending the match should not be a cause for fear. "It's not scary to go to the match even if the Bad Blue Boys come," he said. To assess the risk, Norwegian police even sent officers to Lithuania to monitor the "Boys" during their match against Kauno Žalgiris.

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It's not scary to go to the match even if the Bad Blue Boys come.

Paulsen noted that feedback from Lithuanian police and their own experiences have been largely positive, suggesting the worst-case scenarios might not materialize. He identified potential provocations leading to aggression as the main concern, referencing recent incidents in Croatia involving fights and unrest, as well as the use of flares. Viking club officials have assured fans that they are working closely with the police to ensure a safe event, with both uniformed and plainclothes officers expected to be present.

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Feedback from Lithuanian police and the experience we had were quite good. There were no problems even when they played against a Swiss team in the previous match.