Wales to heighten security after Gareth Bale’s family were targeted by Arsonists
Security are taking no risks after Gareth Bale's extended family had their home and cars damaged
WALES will beef up their security operation this week after Gareth Bale's extended family were targeted by arsonists.
The Real Madrid superstar, who faced Eibar in La Liga on Sunday, is in Cardiff preparing for the 2018 World Cup qualifier against Austria in Vienna on Thursday night.
And Wales have drafted in additional security following reports the family of Bale's fiancee Emma Rhys-Jones were targeted by arsonists as fire damaged their homes and cars.
Real stepped up their own security for Bale in Spain with three armed cops stood guard outside his room at the team hotel as they prepared to play in Gran Canaria against Las Palmas on September 24.
Although Wales, boss Chris Coleman and Bale himself are understood to be all relaxed about the situation, security has been reviewed with no chances being taken.
That means there will be extra security presence at Wales' Vale of Glamorgan team hotel on the outskirts of Cardiff as well as for the trip to Austria.
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Coleman said last week: "Whatever support Gareth needs from us, we will make sure he gets it.
"He is Gareth Bale, so there are always going to be people who pry into his private life.
"But these things are not really connected to Gareth - they are to do with somebody connected to somebody who's connected to Gareth."
It is believed the feud erupted last month after a case containing cash, cocaine and watches worth £1million vanished along with Epiphany Dring - the glamour model cousin of Bale's fiancee Emma Rhys-Jones.
Meanwhile, Coleman says Wales will not play a friendly next month, unlike England who will face Spain.
Coleman said: "I like a friendly if it’s against opposition like Argentina or Spain where we’re going to be right up against it, not one where we should win. I don’t see what we’d get out of playing those type of friendlies.
"A lot of other countries have a friendly and then a competitive game but I've said I don't want a friendly. To be fair to our FA, I've said, 'Give me that time to work with the team and get them ready for the game. That costs us money sometimes because we can earn money off good friendlies.
“But the time I get to spend with players is invaluable because we don’t get the time.
"That three or four days having them together working solely tactically, for me as an international manager, is invaluable.
“Friendly games are all right at the right time with the right opposition, opposition that are deemed better than us and really going to test us. I don’t want – all due respect – opposition where we should be winning. I don’t really see what we’re going to get from that.”
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