England fans can end years of football hurt at Thursday’s Euro 24 clash against Denmark – by supping real beer in their seats.
Boozing on the terraces in sight of the pitch has been banned in the UK since 1985 to combat trouble.
But Three Lions’ supporters behaved so well during the team’s tournament opener against Serbia supporters will be allowed to sup proper ale at the second game in Frankfurt.
READ MORE: Boozy England fans drink two months worth of beer in two days at German bar
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Only no or low-alcohol fare was on offer for England’s opening match after it was earmarked pre-tournament as `high risk’.
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But there were only a handful of arrests and that was a dust-up over who got the last table for a pre-match meal at a steakhouse in Gelsenkirchen.
England fans were praised for remaining ‘overwhelmingly calm, restrained and compliant’ despite being stranded at the stadium and a fan zone for up to three hours after the match due to breakdowns in the local tram service.
Now fans’ chiefs have said full strength beer will be on offer against Denmark.
Supporters will be able to sup it from their seats as they watch England go for a victory that would see them qualify for the knockout stages and almost certainly top their group.
According to the Football Supporters’ Association’s official X – formerly Twitter – channel, which gives advice to fans ahead of matches: “Alcohol is expected to be back to normal for this game with no restrictions on sale and normal beer percentages available.
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“And you should be able to drink in the stands.’’
Among the booze likely to be on offer will be Bitburger Premium Pils which is 4.8% alcohol by volume and Benediktiner Weissbier – which is a mighty 5.4% proof.
They are stronger than many beers served in English pubs.
Vast consignments of the ales were taken out of stadium bars in Gelsenkirchen and safety-wrapped in Cellophane ahead of Sunday’s match against Serbia.
But staff at the 58,000-capacity Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt have been told to stock the shelves ahead of the Denmark game which is set to be attended by Football Association chairman William Prince Of Wales.
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An army of 50,000 Three Lions’ supporters were on their way to Germany by plane, train and automobile yesterday for the match – many without tickets.
Fans praised the beer-we-go rule.
One wrote on social media: “That’s mad – never had a beer watching England live.’’
“Bout time fans were treated right,’’ said another.
One more said: “After what happened against Serbia they should be buying the beer.’’
“Beer in the seats – what can possibly go wrong?,’’ wrote another.
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The Football Supporters’ Association has called on organisers UEFA to review its travel arrangements if England top the group and return to Gelsenkirchen for their round-of-16 game.
The body said in a statement it was ‘dismayed at what fans have had to go through’ in the opening match.
Seeing supporters ‘stranded’ afterwards due to ‘transport problems at a major tournament is quite simply ridiculous’, it said.
“Too many England fans found themselves involved in dangerous levels of overcrowding and were confronted with still being in the city three hours after the game finished still facing travel to surrounding towns and cities to their accommodation,’’ the association said.
“It is remarkable that, despite facing the consequences of such inadequate provision and negligent crowd management, the thousands of England fans present remained overwhelmingly calm, restrained and compliant, thus helping to avoid more serious consequences.
“It was those same England fans who were singled out for a supposed ban on public alcohol consumption in certain parts of the city centre, a measure that the FSA had warned was unnecessary and potentially counter-productive.
“It is clear to us that an urgent and thorough review of arrangements is needed with lessons learnt and dramatically enhanced provisions put in place.’’