Brugge police lift threat on fans
Police in Brugge have rescinded their threat to arrest ticketless Newcastle United fans who attempt to get close to the ground for the Europa League fixture next Thursday.
Newcastle were given an original ticket allocation of just 1,470, though this has now been increased by 900 extra tickets.
Earlier this month, police had threatened any fan without a ticket in the vicinity of the Jan Breydel Stadium with arrest. But they have now backed down, and ticketless supports will only be directed away from the area.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Federale Politie said: "A meeting point will be installed in the very centre of the town, on the Market Place on November 8, from noon till 6pm local time.
"Ticket holders will be informed in due course where and when they are expected to gather in order to be accompanied from the Market Place (local name Markt) to the stadium, some miles further uptown.
"Fans who do not have a ticket are not expected to go or be anywhere near the football stadium. When spotted in the vicinity of the stadium, they will be sent away.
"Tickets have to be bought beforehand. They cannot be bought the day of, nor the day preceding, the football game."
Fans have also been advised to carry proof of identity at all times, something they must show officers when requested to do so. They also intend to use hashtags #CLUNEW and #politiebrugge on social networking site Twitter in a bid to keep visiting fans informed.
