Albania applys tough security measures for Albania-Israel World Cup qualifier

The Albanian authorities have taken extreme measures to guarantee safety for the World Cup qualifier between Albania and Israel to be played in Elbasan on Saturday, state police here said on Friday.

The Israeli football team arrived on Thursday afternoon at Tirana international airport and they were escorted with extreme security measures to the place where they spent the night.

The same procedure was followed on Friday afternoon when the team went to the city of Elbasan where the match will take place.

The venue was actually changed for security reasons as it was first planned to be held in Shkodra, northern Albania.

Following some confidential information that Albanian intelligence service received over a potential terrorist act, the authorities decided to move the match to Elbasan, closer to Tirana.

Such a decision also came after media here reported that an alleged group of 15 persons arrested had planned an attack against the Israeli team.

2,000 police officers, the highest number even deployed for a football match, will be involved to guarantee security during the match, according to a press release of the Albanian state police issued Friday.

Police said that fans will be thoroughly checked at the stadium while they requested drivers to use another route between the capital and Elbasan due to limited traffic.

Following the state police statement, the Albanian Football Association reacted by saying that there was no reason for such tight security measures.

Tritan Kokona, spokesperson of Albanian Football Association, called on fans to buy tickets and not to fear anything, stressing that there is nothing to worry about since everything is under the required parameters.

Meantime, according to Israeli Ambassador to Albania Boaz Rodkin, such increased security measures were normal in such events while he noted that was not an unusual situation. Endit