Football fans will see more police in Nottingham throughout today ahead of a historic night for the city.
Nottingham Forest’s City Ground will host its first European home match in nearly 30 years.
200 supporters from Danish side FC Midtjylland will be making the trip over for the Europa League tie.
Tens of thousands of fans are expected for the sell-out fixture which kicks off at 8pm.
In preparation for that, there will be an increased police presence in and around the city to welcome the visiting fans.
Ahead of what promises to be a night to remember, officers are calling on fans to be welcoming hosts to FC Midtjylland for the first European match at home on what looks to be an exciting night of football for both sides.
Superintendent Louise Clarke said:
“We know generations of Forest fans have been waiting years for this kind of occasion, so we want them all to be able to enjoy it safely.
“Seeing the club back in Europe after nearly 30 years means a great deal to supporters and is undoubtedly a thing for our city to be proud of.
“That achievement deserves to be celebrated, so we want tonight to be one that’s remembered for all the right reasons, both on the pitch and off it.
“We know the majority of fans will be going to cheer on their side without causing any trouble whatsoever.’’
“There will be an increased visible police presence around the city up to, during and after the match, but we want to stress we’re not there to ruin anyone’s fun.
“We’re expecting people of all ages to be making their way to the City Ground, so our officers will be on hand to ensure everyone is able to enjoy the match safely.”
Supt Clarke added:
“This is an occasion to be celebrated but our officers will be proactive in dealing with any criminal, antisocial, or inappropriate behaviour we see or which is reported to us.
“It’s important people realise this type of behaviour won’t be tolerated and could lead to sanctions like a football banning order, which would see them miss out on this European campaign entirely.
“No fan wants that – especially this season of all seasons – so our message to them would be to focus on the football and enjoy what will hopefully be the first of many European matches the City Ground hosts this year.
“As I’ve said, we all want this to be a night that’s remembered for all the right reasons, so we will be working closely with Forest to help make sure this happens.”
Graham Murray, Head of Safety and Security at Nottingham Forest, added:
“This is a historic fixture for the Club – we know fans are very much looking forward to the match and to welcoming our visitors from Denmark to the city.
We’re working closely with Nottinghamshire Police to ensure everybody enjoys the day safely, and the increased police presence across the city will mean that supporters can easily raise any concerns should they need to.
I’m sure the atmosphere across Nottingham and within the stadium will be fantastic, and I hope everybody enjoys the game.”