Security measures will be tightened up at the Riverside Stadium
Middlesbrough will increase security measures for their game against Derby County this weekend amid fears of safety for their chairman, Steve Gibson.
Boro are expecting a hostile atmosphere, with over 2,000 away supporters expected at the Riverside Stadium for the game against Derby given the relationship between the two clubs at present.
Tensions are high with Derby facing the threat of liquidation, while Middlesborough chairman Gibson has faced pressure after he launched a compensation claim in the region of £40m against the Rams in 2019.
The claim comes after Derby beat Middlesborough to a play-off place in the 2018-19 season. The Rams were then docked nine points in November 2021 after a breach of the EFL’s profit and sustainability rules during their play-off campaign season.
Fans and insiders at Derby believed this is one of the main factors behind why the club have been unable to secure a takeover – with three potential bidders left frustrated by the delay in negotiations.
As exclusively revealed by The Telegraph, police have implemented extra measures to reduce the risk of fan disorder breaking out in Teeside.
Those measures include:
- Making the game a ‘Category C fixture’ – which is designated to fans expected to have ‘ a high risk of disorder.’
- Ensuring all seats behind the directors’ box in the West Stand are only made available to home fans with a booking history.
- Heavy police presence in and outside of the ground
- The EFL has also spoken to both clubs to discuss the plans to ensure the safety of all supporters
The game also has extra weight riding on it in a footballing perspective, with Wayne Rooney’s side well in contention to avoid the drop – a great achievement given their 21-point deduction over the course of the season.
Meanwhile Middlesbrough have turned their season around under Chris Wilder and are level on points with Nottingham Forest, who occupy the final play-off spot.
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