Arras, France: French authorities are boosting security for the England-Wales European Championship match on Thursday because they expect up to 50,000 England fans to go to the city of Lens, officials said.
Some 2,400 police and gendarmes and security guards will be on duty, backed by the CRS riot squad, regional government official Fabienne Buccio told a press conference to answer fears of violence hitting the city.
There will also be a ban on alcohol sales around the game.
After unrest around the England-Russia game in Marseille on Saturday, attention is now focused on Russia's game with Slovakia in Lille on Wednesday. Lille is near Lens and there are fears Russian and England fans could clash again.
"Between 40,000 and 50,000 (England) supporters are expected," Buccio said.
The figure was based on reservations made on cross-Channel tunnel, train and ferry operators.
The Lens stadium where the match is to be played holds only 35,000 fans. The match, already a sellout, has been classed as high-risk by French authorities for potential hooligan troubles.
AFP
