German authorities aim to reduce alcohol consumption to prevent violence seen in Euro 2016. England fans attending the first Euro 2024 match against Serbia will be served low-alcohol beer. This decision stems from the match being classified as ‘high risk’ due to the reputations of both fan groups.
The fixture, scheduled for Saturday in Gelsenkirchen, will have additional measures, including banning alcohol consumption in the stands, according to Sky News.
Chief Inspector Christof Burghardt told Sky News, “I think it’s a very high-risk game because of the history, because of the hooligans both sides have. Serbia has many hooligans. The English guys, with alcohol, they are sometimes very aggressive.”
Police in Gelsenkirchen are on high alert, with reports suggesting that 500 Serbian hooligans may attempt to incite violence. With 300,000 England fans expected throughout the tournament and 40,000 at this match, police are focusing on fan safety.
Despite UEFA’s request to remove barriers and allocate two-thirds of tickets to mixed areas, security efforts will be robust. The Foreign Office has warned English fans about the strength of German beer, advising caution.
A test run at a Schalke league match demonstrated the security measures in place, including random checks for weapons or alcohol and extensive CCTV surveillance.
The tournament organizers aim to avoid a repeat of Euro 2016 violence, which resulted in over 1,500 arrests. About 22,000 federal police officers will be on duty daily, supported by the largest deployment of British officers overseas since Euro 2016.
Euro 2024 venues can accommodate 2.3 million fans, with fan zones holding up to 12 million, posing a significant challenge for German police. Low-alcohol beer will continue to be used in any high-risk games throughout the tournament.
Credit: Joe
