BLAME LENS CAP ON EURO DUNCES

ENGLAND supporters’ sober sojourn to Lens this summer illustrates why fairness should never trump common sense.

Police have announced a town-wide 24-hour ban on alcohol on the day England play Wales, with orders to stop, search and confiscate even a miniature Baileys.

From the authorities’ stand- point, you can see the logic. Lens, a tiny town, has a population of 32,000. Just 9,000 tickets were handed to each side.

Even if nobody travelled without one – which they almost certainly will – the practicalities of hosting 20,000 plastered punters don’t stack up. There aren’t enough bars, restaurants, even toilets.

But you can’t blame England or Wales. It’s the fault of whichever Einstein decided to allot games to cities before the draw was even made.

I know it’s the fairest way. But in three weeks, I’ll be at Lyon’s 60,000-seat Stade de Lumieres, watching Romania play Albania in a match with more unsold tickets than any other fixture in the tournament.

Had that game been switched to Lens and England v Wales played in Lyon, both problems would have been solved at a stroke.

Instead, we’ve got a ground that’s too big, a town that’s too small and thousands of British fans either denied the chance to watch their side or to have a drink whilst doing it. That’s not equality. That’s stupidity.