Call to ban alcohol at finals

A British Government minister has called on Dutch and Belgian officials to ban alcohol sales in cities where Euro 2000 games are being played.

Home Office minister Lord Bassam told the BBC: "Some of the mayors in some of the cities involved do have the power to close up.

" I think that is something they have got to seriously consider, because we do not want beer-fuelled fighting on the streets."

His comments come a week after the violent scenes in Copenhagen involving English and Turkish fans before the Uefa Cup final.

Lord Bassam said the Government had "made it very clear" to the Belgian, Dutch and French authorities that if English troublemakers landed in their jurisdiction "they should send them straight back without any hesitation".