Tight security measures have been put in place around the Bluenergy Stadium in Udine for tomorrow’s Nations League match between Italy and Israel, affecting ticket sales.
The match starts on Monday at 7.45pm UK time (6.45pm GMT).
Inevitably, there is a lot of tension surrounding the organization of this competition due to the ongoing situation in the Middle East.
Italy-Israel calls for extra security
There are tall metal barriers around the Red Zone, which was off-limits for 48 hours before kick-off.
There will also be somewhere between 500 and 1,000 police officers on site and Italian fans have been urged to arrive very early to go through security checks.
Roads have been closed and traffic has been diverted around the stadium and the hotel where the Israeli team is staying.
Partly due to this situation, only 11,700 tickets have been sold, along with 500 children invited by local football academies and 800 by amateur clubs in the region as part of an Italian initiative.
Earlier on Monday there is a planned pro-Palestinian march in Udine, which organizers say will draw around 4,000 people.
