Champions League final: Huge police operation for Cardiff’s big game

A massive police and security operation was in action across Cardiff on Saturday as fans arrived for the Champions League Final.

The Welsh capital was buzzing with visitors ahead of the clash between holders Real Madrid and Juventus at the Principality Stadium.

More than 170,000 people were expected to visit Cardiff in total, with up to 2,000 police officers working on the biggest security operation Wales has seen since NATO visited in 2014.

Police urged those without tickets for the European showpiece match not to drive or use public transport in Cardiff due to the influx and closure of many city centre roads.

Spanish and Italian fans headed to a Champions Festival in Cardiff Bay, with others remaining in the city centre and also gathering outside Cardiff Castle before the game.

Four people were arrested – one on suspicion of drink driving and three on suspicion of ticket touting – in separate incidents by officers policing the match.

But South Wales Police said there had been no other issues, despite the thousands in Cardiff.

The Principality Stadium – which has been renamed the National Stadium of Wales for the night due to the competition’s sponsorship rules – holds 74,500 fans.

Supporters were not able to take bags into the stadium while officers were trialling facial recognition technology to scan thousands of faces as part of the huge security effort.

UEFA warned fans they would be barred entry from the stadium if found in possession of one of the counterfeit tickets in circulation.

Assistant chief constable Richard Lewis, from South Wales Police, said: "We have a lot of experience in terms of sporting events like rugby and cricket, but this is huge.

"The whole world will be watching Cardiff.

"This is a sporting event that transcends continents and we will be policing it with a smile on our faces."

It is estimated that fans will spend around £45m over the weekend in Cardiff.

The match will be broadcast live in 200 countries with a global TV audience of 350 million people.

UEFA have spent around £80,000 on a ‘legacy pitch’ in the suburb of Grangetown so children will have somewhere to play in future years.

Wales and Liverpool legend Ian Rush was joined by a UEFA delegation and Italy’s record women’s goal scorer, Patrizia Panico, to officially open the all-weather surface.

"When you look at the pitches, they are absolutely fantastic," said Rush, who played for Juventus after leaving Liverpool.

"I never had a chance to play on a pitch like this when I was a kid – they were all muddy!

"Children will have the chance to express themselves here."

While Rush and fellow Wales legend John Charles both played for Juventus, Madrid will have huge local support – winger Gareth Bale is from Cardiff.

(c) Sky News 2017: Champions League final: Huge police operation for Cardiff’s big game