Real Betis vs Rangers in the Europa League next week has been declared as a ‘high risk’ event by Spanish authorities, according to a report.
Philippe Clement and his charges travel to Seville needing a win against the Group C table toppers. Failing that, if Rangers match the Sparta Prague vs Aris Limassol result on the same night, then they would still progress to the knockout rounds.
But a victory is what the Belgian will set out for despite the huge challenge. Betis sit seventh in La Liga and are in good form, losing just two league games this season. It won’t be easy but Rangers can take stock from the fact they triumphed over Betis at Ibrox 1-0 last time out thanks to Abdallah Sima’s strike.
Rangers are set to bring more than 2000 fans to Spain for the clash next week and that has prompted authorities in Seville to take action.
Real Betis vs Rangers is ‘high risk’
Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo are reporting that due to the number of Rangers fans arriving in the city to support their heroes, the crunch encounter has been deemed ‘high risk’.
Journalist Ramon Fuentes wrote: “The Permanent Commission of the State Commission against Violence, Racism, Xenophobia and Intolerance in Sports declared Betis’s match on the last day of the Europa League as a high-risk clash on Thursday afternoon.”
Fuentes writes that a ‘possible invasion of fans’ could occur due to the high stakes of the game, coupled with the prediction that Rangers will take way more fans than the allocation they have been given to watch from the Benito Villamarin stands.
The report went on to reference Celtic fans when they flew over to Madrid to watch their side take on Real in the Champions League last season, claiming they ’caused havoc’ in the Spanish capital.
That game was classed as high risk too, with 1,800 security troops reportedly deployed to deal with any potential trouble. And it seems a similar approach will be adopted when Rangers take on Betis at the Bentio Villamarin.
