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Madrid ready for Copa Libertadores final second leg
Madrid, Dec 8 (IANS) Sunday sees the second leg of the Copa Libertadores final between Argentinean sides River Plate and Boca Juniors in Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu stadium: a game which has attracted worldwide attention given the dramatic circumstances surrounding it.
Such is the global interest in the match that the press box in the Bernabeu has had to be expanded to allow space for all the accredited journalists, reports Xinhua.
The game was moved from Argentina after violent scenes around River Plate’s El Monumental stadium saw the second leg postponed on November 25th after the Boca team bus was attacked by stones and other missiles by River fans.
Both sides had previously agreed that only home supporters would be allowed to attend the two-legged final, in a bid to reduce the risk of violence between rival fans. However, with both sets of supporters travelling to Madrid, where they will be joined by thousands of Argentines already living in Spain, Sunday’s game is surrounded by extraordinary security measures.
Both sets of fans will be separated for the duration of the day, with Fanzones for each set of supporters on either side of the ground.
Around 4,000 police, 2,000 of whom are members of the Anti-Disturbance branch of the Spanish national police, will be on duty, more than for a match between Real Madrid and Barcelona or a Madrid derby between Real and city rivals Atletico.
These security forces will be backed up by emergency services such as the fire brigade, ambulances and civil protection units.
Fans with tickets have also been issued with wrist bands and will have to pass through three separate security cordons before gaining access to the Bernabeu, while journalists have been advised to pick up their accreditation the day before, as there will be no way to access the stadium without a wristband on Sunday.
There are also plans to ensure supporters remain separate after the game, as one group of fans will be celebrating while the other laments their loss.
If Boca win the title, they will celebrate in the Plaza de Cibeles, while River Plate fans would make their victorious way to the Puerta del Sol in the heart of Madrid.
Spanish police, who are being helped by their Argentinean counterparts, are also on duty at Madrid’s Barajas Airport aiming to prevent known hooligans from the Barras Bravas gang from attending the game.
One notorious Boca “Barra Brava” was identified and immediately deported on Friday morning. Meanwhile, there are also worries that Spanish fans may also get involved in any violence, with Boca having a close relationship with Real Madrid’s “Ultra Sur” supporters, while River Plate’s radicals are close to Rayo Vallecano’s “Bukaneros” ultra group.
In sporting terms, the final is finely balanced after a 2-2 first leg draw in Boca’s La Bombonera stadium. This makes River Plate slight favourites for the title, but given the events of the past fortnight, almost anything can be expected in Madrid on Sunday.
–IANs
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.
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