This is a very strange game. Spectators aren’t even allowed to take posters or flags into the stadium. Forget selfie sticks or large cameras or any kind of fireworks. The police and the security personnel are conscious of the fact that anything can happen and are not willing to take any chances. From the morning security checkpoints close to the stadium have been activated. The number of security personnel deployed will be triple in comparison to what is deployed for any other game and no one is prepared to take a chance.
A local speaking on condition of anonymity helped put things in context, “Dubai is an international sports destination. We have hosted a number of high profile events and it is our duty to ensure the security and safety of every spectator and every player. To do so we will leave no stone unturned. We are conscious this situation isn’t normal and that’s why every kind of precaution is in place.”
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The police have already put security details in place. There are fines between 5000 AED and 30000 AED that can be imposed and any breach could also lead to deportation or imprisonment between one to three months. In sum, the Dubai stadium will be turned into a fortress for the game tonight with extra checks and frisks in place. Mounted police will patrol the area and any kind of unlawful activity will be dealt with harshly.
Even for the media very strict protocols are in place. You can’t do a slew of things and a breach will lead to cancellation of accreditation.
In my three decades of covering sport I haven’t covered a game like this. Almost everyone is on the edge. No one is willing to open up and that explains the anxiety and the tension. The players know that this is one game where no one will accept failure and they have so far very silently gone about their business. Just hope they can be emotionless on Sunday night and close out the job at hand. It isn’t a cricket match being played out there. There is more to it and each one of us know it.
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