Security will "be tightened" at Saturday's game between Real Madrid and Barcelona in the wake of the attacks in Paris, according to Dermot Corrigan of ESPN. Community of Madrid government delegate Concepción Dancausa said that security checks before the game "will be stepped up." She said, "We'll have to look inside the sandwiches [to make sure everything is safe]. Logically we will take all the necessary measures and, as is logical, we will take into account what happened in France, and reinforce some of the measures in some ways." Spanish Football League (LFP) President Javier Tebas said that "more than half a billion viewers were likely to watch the match" on TV. The idea of playing La Liga matches overseas has "previously been floated," but Tebas said the Clásico "would not be included in any such expansion plan." He said, "El Clásico will never be played outside of Spain" (ESPN, 11/17). In Madrid, Patricia Ortega Dolz reported Saturday's game "will not be just any high-risk match, as security will be increased by 30% compared to a normal high-risk event." There are expected to be 550 police officers and 1,000 guards hired by Real Madrid. On Thursday, a meeting of a security committee presided by Dancausa will finalize the security plan for the game (EL PAÍS, 11/18).
INT'L WATCH PARTIES: La Liga will organize several events in different parts of the world, including at the Spanish military base in Lebanon, for fans to enjoy the game. There will also be organized events in Dubai, Shanghai and Miami. The watch parties will be organized with the collaboration of broadcasters beIN Sports and PPTV, and La Liga ambassadors will be present in Miami, Shanghai and Lebanon (La Liga).
