French government assures ‘no proven threat’ to PSG-Barcelona quarter-final

The French government has responded to the comments made by its Interior Minister, Gérald Darmanin, who announced yesterday morning that the police were increasing their security efforts following a terrorist threat to the Champions League quarter-final between Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona. 

Last week European governments became aware that the Islamic State had released a threat calling on its sympathisers to attack the four stadiums hosting Champions League ties this week, one of which will be the Parc des Princes in Paris, where PSG will host Barcelona tonight. 

Darmanin had stressed that security would be “considerably reinforced” ahead of the meeting after a “clear threat” to the game had been issued, while at a press conference, PSG manager Luis Enrique admitted that he was worried about the terrorist threat, and hoped that it would remain simply a threat.

Prisca Thevenot, speaking on behalf of the French government, has attempted to cool concerns for the game and suggests that there has been “no proven threat, and this has been recalled by the Minister of the Interior earlier in the Council of Ministers, but our caution and our responsibility remain at all times.” 

GFFN | Nick Hartland