Police target Uefa troublemakers

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Police are working to prevent known or potential troublemakers flying to Moscow for the Uefa Champions League final on Wednesday.

Officers will be stationed at Heathrow and Manchester airports ahead of the Manchester United and Chelsea game.

They will work to identify and prevent anyone known to have convictions for violence or football-related disorder from travelling to the Russian capital.

Police from Manchester and London will also act as "spotters" in Moscow.

They will be there to alert the authorities if banned supporters are seen in the city.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesman said: "As with all European fixtures, officers from Greater Manchester Police will be going to the match in an advisory role.

It should be an event that everyone can relax at and enjoy Ch Supt Janette McCormick

"They will be on the lookout for any known troublemakers and will alert the Russian authorities if any are spotted."

A spokeswoman from the Metropolitan Police said: "A number of officers who have specialist knowledge of risk supporters of Chelsea Football Club will be travelling to act in support of the local police, acting as spotters."

Police in Manchester said people thinking of travelling to Moscow to commit crime should think again.

"As with all operations like this, we are sending out a clear message to people intending to travel to commit violence to think again, " said Ch Insp Robert Tinsley from Manchester airport police station.

"Plain-clothes officers will be working to spot known troublemakers and uniformed officers will be providing a high-visibility presence at the airport, talking to fans and monitoring the situation."

Police from the UK will advise the authorities in Russian capital

About 40,000 extra passengers are expected to make the journey to Moscow from the UK in the next few days.

But Greater Manchester Police said supporters would not be able to travel if they did not have a match ticket, their passport and a flight ticket.

They have also been banned from taking flagpoles on to planes.

Anyone who has had too much to drink will not be allowed to travel. The pilot will refuse to allow drunken passengers to board the plane.

GMP match commander, Ch Supt Janette McCormick, said: "The Champions League Final is a prestigious occasion and it should be an event that everyone can relax at and enjoy.

"I hope fans share my hope that everyone who goes to Moscow will behave impeccably and make this a night to remember. Good luck to both teams."