Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Rome brings in two-day alcohol ban
An alcohol ban will come into force in Rome tonight as 30,000 Manchester United fans head to the city for the Champions League final against Barcelona.
The ban, from 11pm right through until 6am on Thursday morning, will cover the Italian capital's centre and the area surrounding the stadium.
Officials said that they expected 30,000 fans from Britain - 10,000 without tickets, and 20,000 from Spain.
Security for the final will be unprecedented with more than 1,500 police and paramilitary carabinieri on duty around the Italian capital and the Stadio Olimpico.
Tickets for the final are electronic chip and are credit card style as opposed to the traditional paper tickets and official ones give access to Rome museums and public transport.
Police officers from Britain will be on patrol in uniform as well as undercover but they will have no powers of arrest and will simply be a point of recognition.
The ban, from 11pm right through until 6am on Thursday morning, will cover the Italian capital's centre and the area surrounding the stadium.
Officials said that they expected 30,000 fans from Britain - 10,000 without tickets, and 20,000 from Spain.
Security for the final will be unprecedented with more than 1,500 police and paramilitary carabinieri on duty around the Italian capital and the Stadio Olimpico.
Tickets for the final are electronic chip and are credit card style as opposed to the traditional paper tickets and official ones give access to Rome museums and public transport.
Police officers from Britain will be on patrol in uniform as well as undercover but they will have no powers of arrest and will simply be a point of recognition.
