Austria’s national football team will play its first game today at the European Championships in Germany. Not only players and hundreds of thousands of fans are excitedly awaiting the red-white-red European Championship opener against France in Düsseldorf, but also 22 local police officers.
Along with 21 dog handlers, they were requested to provide support by the host. “The mood is good and the cooperation with the German colleagues is going excellently,” says Johannes Prager, head of the unit of scene-savvy officers (SKB) for the Austria fans.
Lots of experience in dealing with fans
The Puchenauer’s police unit, for which you had to apply, consists of twelve Austrians – four of them from Upper Austria – and four German SKB colleagues. “I’m happy that I was selected,” says Prager. He has 15 years of experience in dealing with Austrian football fans. “I’ve already been to European Championship and World Cup qualifiers, which meant I’ve traveled all over Europe, and I was also deployed at LASK’s European Cup games.”
The safety of the supporters travelling with the team is always the top priority around the games: help should be provided if there are questions or problems, and meetings with fans from other nations should be ensured to be peaceful. He expects 15,000 to 20,000 supporters travelling with the team to Düsseldorf.
Working day starts early
“Even though the game is only at 9 p.m., our work begins early,” says the officer. After coordinating with the German emergency services, the officers mingle with the crowds, including during the fan march. “We should then be in the fan sector during the game,” says Prager. Despite his affinity for football, he cannot fully enjoy the action on the pitch because “the work clearly takes precedence.”
The SKB unit is scheduled to play in the three European Championship group matches. “Of course I hope that our stay is extended and that Austria advances to the round of 16,” says Prager.
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Source: Nachrichten
