Sevilla prepares twin security plan for Copa del Rey final and pre-Feria supersaturday | OneFootball

Sevilla prepares for a supersaturday of the Copa del Rey final and the pre-Feria, with twin security operations at La Cartuja and the Real to manage large crowds.

Mayor José Luis Sanz said the Local Police will mount a major effort around La Cartuja, and the fairground will have its own policing plan. Two fixed firefighter teams will operate at the Real 24 hours a day, supported by 33 AI-enabled CCTV cameras across the Feria site.

The Government Subdelegation will set out the match-day deployment on Thursday, likely similar to previous editions. Past finals mobilised 1,400 officers in 2025 and 1,511 in 2024. With Real Sociedad playing Atlético de Madrid, there is the tragic precedent of Aitor Zabaleta’s 1998 killing by an Atlético-linked ultra.

"We know there are some who try to erode the festive mood, and the state security forces are more than prepared to prevent it," said Francisco Toscano, speaking to SER Deportivos Gipuzkoa. "We call on supporters to come and enjoy it. Sevilla is a very enjoyable city and the aim is to experience a great sporting event."

The SPLS warned last Friday that the 092 control room and key posts had gone unstaffed, claiming calls might go unanswered and that this endangered citizens and officers.

Sppme-A president Luis Val said they approach the weekend with concern, arguing the final will absorb many officers and the pre-Feria will draw crowds, and that minimum staffing recently hit radio communications. Extra shifts have been assigned under the productivity plan, but caps limit numbers and cut into Feria week. Csif representative Santiago Raposo added that after big events only three officers per 092 shift remain.

Sanz said more than 1,000 local officers will be on duty for Feria week. He said the new GAR unit will be visible at the fairground, and questioned why matchgoing fans would head to the Real with the casetas closed.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo