The Minister of the Interior, Taulant Balla, has stated that a higher level of security is needed in the stadiums, as well as emphasized that severe punishments will be required for anyone who violates the rules established by UEFA.
On the eve of the Albania-Poland match, which will be played on Sunday, Minister Balla held a meeting with the leaders of the State Police, where he discussed the plan of security measures and emphasized that no display of hooliganism should be allowed during the match.
"We need another level of security in stadiums, not only in international sports events, but also in national competitions. The State Police should not allow any display of hooliganism during the Albania-Poland match. Anyone who violates the rules set by UEFA will be documented and severely punished. We should not wait for an event like what happened in Athens a few weeks ago, to toughen our measures," said Balla.
Minister Balla has stated that people with a history of hooliganism should be identified, in both fans, and he emphasizes that violent people should be banned forever from entering the stadiums.
"We are at the right time to communicate with the public and to say clearly that anyone who comes to the stadium, with the intention of uprooting the stadium benches and throwing them on the field, or causing other acts of hooliganism and here with the Albanian Football Federation we must be very clear, to take drastic measures, naturally the criminal part, but also to not allow certain persons to enter the stadiums forever. Great Britain is the most complete example of drastic change, but Albania is no exception in this regard. We have the right time available to identify people with a history of hooliganism, in both Albanian and Polish fans. Even with the Polish side, we must be very clear and the persons who, from the communication with the Polish State Police,
Balla also underlines that a good cooperation between all structures of the State Police will lead to the prevention of any possible violence during this sporting event.
"I am very confident that a better coordination of all the structures of the State Police, be it the order, the Road or the other Anti-Terrorist structures or the Structures of the Rapid Intervention Forces, will have to prevent any violent event in the capital Albanian during this sporting event, added here and before the match and after the match. Never forget that everything is related to the image of Albania", Minister Balla concluded.