On Thursday (6.45 p.m., Sky live), SK Sturm will welcome the Red Star Belgrade team with Austrian Marko Arnautovic as part of the Europa League. Austria’s team player has received the green light to play against the black and whites. It is uncertain whether the 36-year-old will actually play against an Austrian team for the first time in his career.
What is certain is that Serbian fans will come to Graz. The Red Star Belgrade supporters are notorious and were banned by UEFA from the game against Sturm due to various riots and the club was fined. But the European Football Association then decided differently: the Serbs were allowed to travel to the away game in Graz. The club secured 1,400 tickets in the fan sector. Up to 3,000 supporters are expected to come to the Styrian capital.
“We will be well positioned”
The police are alerted and well prepared. “We will be well positioned,” says police spokesman Fritz Grundnig. As always, there is silence about the number of police officers deployed. Grundnig only reveals that the strength of men and women is “comparable to any previous game in Graz”. Around 700 officers were on duty against Feyenoord Rotterdam. So there will be more this time. A helicopter will be in use, as will a dog team, as well as surveillance with drones. Two de-escalation vehicles (once called water cannons) will be available. The police will be present in large numbers, especially at hotspots, such as Christmas markets.
Gottfried Rothschedl, an official familiar with the scene, speaks of a challenge for the executive, but also says: “The Serbian fans have no fan hostility towards SK Sturm and their supporters, but caution is still advised.” However, Red Star supporters show no quarter when it comes to provocations of a political nature, as situations could quickly escalate. So the following applies: avoid provocations as much as possible. A security area will be set up around the stadium. The possible fan march from the main square to the stadium will disrupt evening traffic around Conrad-von-Hötzendorf-Straße on Thursday (around 4 p.m.).
