German police are worried there could be violence at the Euro 2024 game between England and Serbia.
The game on Sunday evening in Gelsenkirchen was classified as ‘high risk.
A New Generation of Fans
Police chief Peter Both said there is a blind spot in the knowledge of how the current England fans act 2020 will have proved to be a gap year between Euro 2016 and, who knows, Euro 2024.
The children who have discovered soccer during those few weeks three summers ago are by now 24 or so and experiencing their first nostalgia.
The pair both said, “It basically means it is hard for us to predict what will happen.
Extra Safety Measures
German police are using a special vehicle because of the risk involved.
One such measure is that only low-alcohol beer is being served in the Veltins-Arena, home to Schalke.
The choice is a measure intended to limit rowdiness in the stands.
Both also reported that though the FA were allocated 10,000 tickets, closer to 20,000 have been taken in total by England fans, with over 30,000 headed to the city.
With up to 10,000 Serbian fans also expected to travel to the match, it could prove to be a major headache for police
History of Hooliganism
Football hooliganism is well documented in both England and Serbia.
English domestic leagues seem to have suffered a bit more owing to disorder in recent years.
There were 1,624 football banning orders in place as of last summer, up 24 per cent on the 2012 figure.
Those affected had to give up their passports to stop them from going to games in Germany.
Either way, both have fears that as many as 500 ‘violence-seeking’ Serbian hooligans could still head for Gelsenkirchen.
But he acknowledged authorities still do not have a clear understanding.
Keeping Calm and Enjoying the Game
A general warning has also been issued asking people to refrain from posting unverified information on social media.
Allegations of violence and attacks on the Serbian team were among the best unfounded claims.
For England supporters without tickets, there will be a fan zone at a racecourse, where 80,000 liters of beer and 32,000 sausages will be sold.
The bottom line, according to police: Game on, but keep it cool and keep everyone safe.