Wednesday 25 May 2016 21:36, UK
Alcohol will be served at the Euro 2016 clash between England and Wales in Lens despite stories of a ban.
Up to 500,000 British football fans, with many expected to travel without a ticket, are likely to travel to France this summer for the matches across the nation.
The northern town of Lens will be hosting the match between the English and Welsh on June 16 and some reports this week have indicated there would be a 24-hour suspension on selling booze.
However, there has been frustration over the mixed messages within Lens with the local authorities stating there has been a misunderstanding regarding the sale and consumption of alcohol for the Euro 2016 showdown.
Lens council told Sky Sports News HQ that they wanted to stress there was no ban in the town during the tournament and that drinks can be purchased in the fanzone, albeit in plastic glasses, and will be on sale around the city, although fans won't be able to buy or consume it on the streets.
Lens councillor Pierre Mazure told SSNHQ reporter Rob Dorsett: "It's never been forbidden to sell alcohol.
"You will be able to drink beer in pubs and bistros in plastic cups. Our message is come to Lens because one thing you will be allowed to do is celebrate!"
England and Wales were each allocated 9,000 tickets for the game, but there were more than 20,000 applications.
Currently 1,841 England fans and 86 Wales supporters are under banning orders that apply from May 31 to July 11, meaning they must hand in their passports to police.
An operation covering 29 UK ports with officers from 19 police forces will launch on June 6, with specially trained 'spotters' to detect hooligans trying to sneak out of the country.
The Stade Bollaert-Delelis in Lens has a capacity of just over 38,000 and only fans with tickets will be allowed within a set exclusion zone.
The Lens authorities added that "stewards and police have every confidence they can cope with extra numbers".
