Image Credit: Matthew Ashton / Getty Images
Euro 2016: Alcohol has been banned by French authorities before the England v Wales match, it has been confirmed.
With England fans among those rioting during the opening states of the football tournament, coming to blows in the streets of Marseille with Russian fans before the two sets of supporters violently clashed in the stadium following Saturday’s match, the UK has drafted over 4,000 police offers to help France moderate Thursday’s game between the two British squads. In order to prevent a repeat of those events, the BBC have reported that around 350 French bars will shut early on Wednesday and Thursday, while shops selling alcohol will be closed until Friday.
Russian fans attack English fans following Saturday’s match. (Image Credit: Lars Baron / Getty Images)
Though the violence that plagued the start of the tournament has calmed down, it has had lasting effects. 51-year-old England fan Andrew Bache was left with life-changing brain injuries after being assaulted by Russian fans carrying iron rods, with him currently sitting in an induced coma leaving the full extent of his devastating injuries unknown.
England and Russia were both warned about their behaviour during the competition, with UEFA issuing a stern threat to English and Russian fans, saying that both national sides would be banned if the violence continued. England and Wales are set to go head-to-head tomorrow afternoon, with kick-off scheduled for 2pm BST.
