The Football Association sought a ban on the sale of alcohol before England’s Euro 2024 opener against Serbia amid fears over fan disorder in Gelsenkirchen.
It can be revealed that the FA wrote to Uefa about the imposition of such a ban in the immediate vicinity of the Veltins-Arena ahead of what the city’s chief of police branded the most “high-risk” match of the tournament.
Peter Both told Telegraph Sport the FA had “recommended a ban on alcohol in the city” but was informed such a restriction would be unlawful.
The FA confirmed it wanted restrictions imposed at outlets close to the stadium – similar to those in place for games at Wembley since the carnage that engulfed the Euro 2020 final there – but stressed it had not requested this be extended to within the venue itself.
It emerged last week that alcohol consumption would be policed during the Serbia-England game on June 16, including via a ban on those attending from drinking in their seats and a limit on purchasing such drinks to two per round.
It can also be revealed that only low-alcohol beer will be sold inside the stadium, while drinking in public will not be allowed in Gelsenkirchen’s central Heinrich-König-Platz.
Both confirmed those measures would not apply to the other two group games to take place in Gelsenkirchen: Spain v Italy; and Georgia v Portugal.
Pointing out the disparity was the same between matches played in England, where there are similar restrictions, and those in other countries, Both said: “The English supporters are used to it.”
The FA also said it had not sought a ban on the sale of alcohol before England’s other Group C games against Denmark and Slovenia.
At a pre-Euro 2024 briefing last month, government officials, British and German police, and the FA were all keen to downplay the threat of fan disorder at the tournament.
But the proposed and approved measures in place for England’s opening match betray the very real concerns about the risk of such disorder that has arguably not been bigger for one of their games since the final of Euro 2020.
This summer’s tournament is also the most easily accessible on foreign soil since Euro 2016 for Three Lions fans, who were ambushed eight years ago by Russian thugs in scenes of sickening violence.
A toxic mix of alcohol-fuelled England supporters and fans from a country also notorious for hooligans inevitably carries with it the potential for a repeat.
Both had been quoted last year suggesting he wanted an alcohol ban in place for the Serbia game but he downplayed this.
Meanwhile, an FA spokeswoman said: “We inquired about the possibility of an alcohol ban in the immediate vicinity of the stadium – similar to the ban which is in place in the immediate vicinity of Wembley Stadium, which has been successful. We did not request a ban on serving alcohol in the stadium.”