Record police deployment in Budapest as 10,000 fans without tickets head to Arsenal-Paris Saint-Germain Champions League final
Budapest is deploying an unprecedented 4,000 police officers for Saturday’s Champions League Final, the largest single-day police operation in Hungarian history, as authorities brace for a high‑risk encounter between Arsenal and Paris Saint‑Germain. Major General Dr. János Zoltán Kuczik, the operations commander, said the force had spent three weeks analysing the behaviour of both fanbases alongside UEFA security experts, and warned that any disruption to public order would meet “decisive action”. The operation will see regular officers supported by motorcycle patrols, dog units, mounted police and drone operators, with reinforcements from France and the UK also present to help maintain order.
Security operation
The 4,000‑strong deployment represents the highest number of officers ever on duty simultaneously in Budapest, reflecting the authorities’ assessment that the final is a “high‑risk event”. Hungarian police have raised the alert level to maximum and have been liaising with law enforcement in London and Paris, as well as observing security operations at previous Champions League matches in Munich. Past incidents have contributed to the heightened vigilance, including confrontations involving PSG’s ultra groups and clashes between Arsenal fans and police during previous away fixtures. “It’s no secret that having fans from London and Paris in Budapest at the same time poses a significant risk, but it is our job to minimise that risk,” Major General Kuczik explained. Call centres have been reinforced with French‑ and English‑speaking staff, and the public have been urged to use public transport on match day, with metro lines M2 and M4 and Tram 1 running every two to three minutes during peak periods.
Fan expectations and attendance
Each club has been allocated 17,000 tickets for the 67,155‑capacity Puskás Aréna, but police estimate that between 10,000 and tens of thousands of additional fans will arrive in the Hungarian capital without tickets. All official tickets have sold out and are issued exclusively as mobile digital tickets through the UEFA Mobile Tickets App. Arsenal supporters will be seated on the north side of the stadium, in the first and third tiers. The authorities are alive to the risk of disorder among ticketless fans: Arsenal supporters, in particular, have voiced a determination to “take over” Budapest, echoing their perceived presence at the club’s only previous Champions League final in 2006, when they lost to Barcelona. PSG, who won their first Champions League title last year by defeating Inter Milan 5‑0, have a large travelling contingent with a history of ultras involvement. The match kicks off at 6pm local time (5pm BST), three hours earlier than in previous years – a change introduced by UEFA to improve fan experience and logistics. In the UK, the final will be broadcast exclusively on TNT Sports, marking the first time since the Champions League rebrand in 1992 that the showpiece has not been available on free‑to‑air television.
Fan zone and transport
For those without tickets, a fan zone equipped with big screens will show the game live. The official UEFA Champions Festival runs from Thursday to Sunday at Heroes’ Square (Hősök tere), a free and neutral area featuring football activities and entertainment. Arsenal’s designated meeting point is in City Park (Városliget), directly behind Heroes’ Square, opening at 8am on match day with DJs, live acts and special guests; it will also remain open after the final for ticket holders awaiting return charter flights. PSG fans will gather at MTK Sportpark, across Kerepesi út from the stadium, with capacity for up to 14,000 supporters, gaming zones and appearances by club legends. The public screening of the match at Heroes’ Square will begin at 4:45pm local time. Buses will carry fans from the airport to designated city areas, with a special “Champions Express” service connecting Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport to both meeting points. Supporters with match tickets can travel free on selected metro lines, Tram 1, the Champions Express and regular airport bus routes between 29 and 31 May. Road closures are in place around the stadium and key event zones, and taxis and private cars are not advised for travel to the venue. The stadium itself is cashless, prohibits bags larger than A4 size, smoking and professional cameras, and requires valid original ID. Budapest Airport expects around 2,000 flight movements and 250,000 passengers across the three‑day period, double normal traffic, with Terminal 1 temporarily reopened to handle the surge, particularly from London. The pre‑match entertainment will be headlined by The Killers.
