German police demand England followers are served low-alcohol beer

German Police are tightening up security ahead of England’s opening Euro 2024 match against Serbia and reportedly have demanded the VELTINS Arena serves Three Lions fans low-alcohol beer – which is likely to be around 1 per cent.

Officials have claimed the game is a ‘high risk’ tie, having noted that that there is a chance hooligan fans from both sides could try to cause violence in and around the VELTINS Arena, in Gelsenkirchen, the home of Schalke 04.

It is expected around 40,000 English fans will travel to support Gareth Southgate‘s side, with only around 5,000 to 8,000 Serbian fans set to travel to Gelsenkirchen for the match on Sunday. 

According to Sky News, fans will not be allowed to drink in the stands at the VELTINS Arena during the match, with the arena, which boasts a state-of-the-art 5km network of beer pumps, being urged by police to serve low percentage alcohol.

‘I think it’s a very high-risk game because of the history, because of the hooligans both sides have,’ Chief Inspector Christof Burghardt said to Sky News.

German police are stepping up security ahead of England’s opening Euro 2024 game vs Serbia on Sunday 

Authorities have urged the VELTINS Arena to serve low-percentage alcohol to England fans

German football bosses are keen to avoid the ugly scenes that erupted in France during Euro 2016

‘Serbia has many hooligans. The English guys, with alcohol, they are sometimes very aggressive.

‘So it’s a great job to do this, to prepare, so that hopefully nothing will happen.’

Local police are weary that there could be violence in and around the city over the weekend, with police chief Peter Both telling The Guardian that ‘up to 400 or 500 violence-seeking Serbian hooligans will travel to Germany’.

He added: ‘The biggest challenge for us will be to identify violent, disruptive groups at an early stage, to separate them from peaceful and law-abiding fans.’

Football fans in Serbia are perhaps some of the most notorious fans when it comes to violence in football. In 2014 a particularly violent incident occurred ahead of Serbia’s European Qualifier game against Albania, with the game subsequently being abandoned after fans had stormed the pitch and began attacking players. 

One of the most notorious Serbian hooligans is Ivan Bogdanov, also known as ‘Ivan The Terrible’ – a fearsome figure who has spent several years in Italian and Serbian jails. 

Riots broke out on the streets of Paris as fans clashed during the tournament in 2016 

Red Star Belgrade fans at the Rajko Mitic on May 13 in a match against FK Radnički 1923

German police are currently working with authorities in the UK and Serbia as they hope to ensure no ugly scenes emerge at this weekend’s match. 

Officials are hoping to avoid the disruption that was seen during Euro 2016 in France. Hooligans clashed with riot police on the Champs-Elysees and in other Parisian suburbs, with gangs of individuals causing disruption within the French capital and around the country. 

Sky News states that approximately 22,000 officers will be on duty every day of Euro 2024, with 16,000 officers from other countries set to also provide support.

German policing authorities have already sent warnings to England fans considering singing chants such as ’10 German Bombers’ during the Championship.

Balaclava-clad Serbian fan Ivan Bogdanov gestures towards riot police during the Euro 2012 qualifier between Italy and Serbia at Luigi Ferraris Stadium in Genoa on October 12, 2010

It is expected around 40,000 England fans will travel to Gelsenkirchen for this Sunday’s match

Chief of police Peter Both stated that around ‘400 to 500 Serbian hooligans will travel to Germany’ 

German police have asked England fans not to sing ’10 German Bombers’ during the Euros

Red Star Belgrade fans at the Rajko Mitic on May 13 in a match against FK Radnički 1923 

Both said, per The Telegraph: ‘I would say to them: Don’t be a d***. If they sing a song like this, I can’t change it.’

According to The Mirror, approximately 300 of Europe’s specialist police officers will travel to a ‘purpose-built centre, the International Police Cooperation Centre’ in the city of Neuss, Germany, where they will control and operate the policing of the tournament. 

Nations from around Europe will have representation there with the unit set to safeguard those attending the tournament from any trouble that may arise.  

More to follow…