Euro 2000 organisers hope to break even

Euro 96 was a success on the field, but off it the tournament made a loss

Alain Courtois, the tournament director for Euro 2000, says that he will be happy if the championships break even.

Speaking to the Belgian financial daily De Financieel Economische Tijd, he said: "Our budget is just over 2.3 billion Belgian francs [£30m] and we expect to earn about the same."

This may seem like a modest target, but the Euro 96 tournament held in England made a loss.

Our budget is just over 2.3 billion Belgian francs [£30m] and we expect to earn about the same

Alain Courtois, tournament director for Euro 2000

And following the recent trouble before the UEFA Cup Final between Arsenal and Galatasaray, the mayor of Brussels, Francois-Xavier De Donnea, says that fans wouldn't be allowed to gather in the Grand'Place, the city's town square.

Dutch fans caused problems there at the recent friendly between Holland and Belgium.

"There will be police everywhere day and night," says De Donnea.

"If anyone lifts a finger, he'll be arrested."

However De Donnea rules out the suggestion that there should be a ban on the sale of alcohol, claiming "that kind of rule is non-enforceable."