Wembley bans bags during England vs USA amid security concerns
What's the story
Wembley Stadium has notched up its security measures for the upcoming England vs USA friendly that is to be held at the prestigious venue on November 15. According to The Telegraph, Martin Glenn, the Chief Executive of FA, has said that Wembley remains a 'prime security target'. It has thus banned bags altogether to avoid unwanted security concerns. Further details follow.
Rationale
The reason behind the ban
While explaining the reason behind taking such a measure, Martin Glenn spoke about the explosion that took place at the Ariana Grande concert at Manchester Arena in 2017 that left 20+ people deceased. He emphasized on the vulnerability of an attack during such mass gatherings, and said that this is the reason the FA has been forced to take such a measure.
Match details
England vs USA friendly: Details of the match
England will host USA at Wembley on November 15 as a part of the 'Kickoff Series'. USA's men's national team will be playing around the world. Apart from England, USA will also face Brazil, Italy, and Mexico during the series. US Men's National Team General Manager Earnie Stewart believes that the series will give youngsters a perspective of international football at the highest level.
Terror attacks
Recalling incidents of attacks at mass gatherings
During 1972 Munich Olympics, militants took the Israeli team hostage and murdered eleven personnel. In a 2002 El Clasico at the Bernabeu (Madrid), the Basque separatist group Eta exploded a car bomb outside the stadium to protest against the arrest of some of its members. Atlanta's Centennial Olympic Park experienced a bombing during a concert by a former US soldier, who went rogue.