The Met Police has warned football fans travelling into central London to see the Euro 2024 final against street drinking.
Issuing an antisocial behaviour dispersal order for Westminster, the force said people who congregate in the street drinking could be made to move on. The order lasts until 2am on Monday.
The force said in a statement: “Crowds of people gathering and drinking in central London streets could be in breach of this order.
“We encourage those to enjoy themselves safely at local licensed premises.”
It added: “Many of the pubs are already full.
“If you were thinking of travelling in, perhaps consider other options and remember to plan your journey home.”
An anti-social behaviour dispersal order is in place in #Westminster [see map] until 2am on 15 Jul.
— Westminster Police | Central West BCU (@MPSWestminster) July 14, 2024
Crowds of people gathering and drinking in central London streets could be in breach of this order.
We encourage those to enjoy themselves safely at local licenced premises. pic.twitter.com/MCEIqqwOhz
While there are no outdoor screens showing the game between England and Spain, a 16-metre screen is in place at the O2 Arena for fans who were lucky enough to get tickets in a public ballot run by City Hall.
Ahead of the match on Sunday night, groups of supporters sporting England shirts and cloaked in St George's flags chanted "football's coming home" as they banged the roof of a Jubilee line tube carriage while travelling to the north Greenwich venue.
Outside the arena, choruses of Neil Diamond's Sweet Caroline and Blur's Parklife also rang out as fans got excited and posed for photos together before the final.
Pubs and bars across England, which are allowed to stay open until 1am on Monday morning, are seeing huge crowds, with industry figures expecting an extra ten million pints to be poured as the public cheer on Southgate’s boys.
Fans travelling around London to see the game are also being warned to plan their trip home, with Tubes and buses expected to be busy.
Both are maintaining their usual Sunday timetable, which depending on the timing of the end of the game, could mean last Tubes departing before supporters have managed to exit the premises in which they are watching the game.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: "Sunday has the potential to be one of the greatest nights in the history of the England men’s team.
“Wherever you are watching the match, whether that be at The O2, in one of our fantastic pubs, clubs and venues or with family and friends at home, be sure to plan ahead so you can enjoy the night safely."
The men's side have never won a European Championship, with the World Cup win in 1966 their last and only major silverware.
It is the first time the men's side has reached a final outside England.
