Security measures will be heightened at Champions League matches this week following the publication of threats against venues by a media outlet supportive of the Islamic State group.
A pro-IS media channel has released several posters urging attacks at stadiums hosting quarter-final matches on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Uefa has acknowledged the threats but stated that matches in Madrid, Paris, and London will proceed as scheduled.
Both French and Spanish ministers have confirmed the implementation of enhanced security measures.
French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin announced that “considerably reinforced” security measures will be in place when PSG plays against Barcelona in Paris on Wednesday.
Mr Darmanin continued: “I will remind you that only 10 days ago, IS shared a picture of the Munich stadium and said action should be taken against sports venues that host football games – although all sports can be targeted. Given how important the Champions League is for football, we are of course talking to our partners.”
Spain’s sports minister, Pilar Alegría, has emphasized a message of “calm” in anticipation of these matches in Madrid and has announced the deployment of “more than 2,000 police and civil guard officers.”
A spokesman for European football’s governing body said: “Uefa is aware of alleged terrorist threats made towards this week’s Uefa Champions League matches and is closely liaising with the authorities at the respective venues.
“All matches are planned to go ahead as scheduled with appropriate security arrangements in place.”
The pro-IS channel has issued calls for violent attacks, showcasing images of prominent stadiums including the Emirates Stadium in London, the Bernabeu Stadium and Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid, as well as the Parc des Princes Stadium in Paris.
Another image shared last week depicted the Allianz Arena in Munich, where Bayern Munich is scheduled to play Arsenal in the return leg next week.
Arsenal is set to face the German side in London on Tuesday. BBC News has reached out to the Metropolitan Police in London for a response.
The threatening jihadist images shared this week—some featuring a masked gunman—were disseminated by pro-IS media groups not officially affiliated with the organization itself.
However, there is speculation that the decision to publicize these threats may have originated from IS leadership, as there have been indications of close coordination between official media operatives and online supporters.
In the aftermath of last month’s Moscow concert hall attack, material aimed at inciting violence on channels with established connections to the group has seen a surge, according to experts at the BBC’s Monitoring service.