With Russia in action on Wednesday and England on Thursday in nearby Lens, a ban on alcohol sales from shops and supermarkets in Lille will run until 6am on Friday. Some 350 bars in the city will be required to close at midnight.
On the day Russia was sanctioned by Uefa over events inside Marseille’s Stade Velodrome on Saturday, when their supporters charged at the England section, they were also warned any further instances of hooliganism inside Euro 2016 stadiums would result in immediate disqualification.
As French authorities began attempting to deport some Russian fans identified as being involved in Marseille, there was tension in Lille as an estimated 15,000 Russians began to arrive in the city before their match with Slovakia. Thousands of England and Wales fans also began to arrive before their match in Lens, having been officially advised to stay away from the small industrial city if they did not have a match ticket and instead watch the game at the large fan zone in Lille.
Following the incidents in Marseille Uefa’s executive board warned England and Russia could be kicked out of the tournament if there was any repeat. But after promising that anyone spotted drinking from cans or bottle on the streets would be arrested, the administrative head of the Pas-de-Calais region, the prefect Michel Lalande, also belatedly advised England fans not to arrive until Thursday to avoid “crossing flows” with the Russians. The plea is likely to be far too late to stop thousands of British fans arriving, many of them following the official advice to avoid Lens and head for Lille.