A long-standing prohibition on consuming alcohol within the stands of British soccer stadiums may be heading for a review. UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham recently suggested that the current regulations, which have been in place for over four decades, are discriminatory toward football supporters who are treated differently than fans of other spectator sports. Hello everyone, Spanish Editor Patrick here. Anyways, plenty to get into today, but let’s begin with something that’s become a talker here in the UK: Will fans be able to drink beer in stadiums again. You might be shocked to find out that you can’t drink beer in the stands at soccer matches in a few big leagues across Europe (e.g, if you’re reading from the US. Spain’s La Liga, France’s Ligue 1 and England’s Premier League), but that might soon be changing in the United Kingdom if the prime minister has his way. New Sports intern Fraser Godden has compiled a couple of men’s internationals you should watch over the weekend. Instead, La Roja visits Wembley to take on England in a repeat of the Euro 2024 final, which Spain won 2-1.
The restriction stems from the Sporting Events Act 1985, a piece of legislation introduced under Margaret Thatcher’s government. At the time, the home secretary identified alcohol as a primary driver of violent and disorderly conduct, leading to the total ban on drinking within view of the pitch at the top five tiers of the English game. While hooliganism was a significant societal challenge during that era, the reputation of English fans has since evolved, with incidents of violence declining significantly over the intervening years. “And I do believe there is a case to remove that discrimination. There are different ways it could be done. Incidents gradually declined until today where English fans largely have a much better reputation abroad, while hooliganism and fan violence were a big issue in the 1980s and 90s.
Despite the Prime Minister’s interest in potentially repealing or trialing a change to the law, he faces resistance from safety advocates. The UK Football Policing Unit (UKFPC) has warned that relaxing these rules could threaten the safety of both staff and attendees. Officials argue that soccer matches continue to experience higher rates of criminal behavior compared to other sports, asserting that increasing alcohol consumption would be an irresponsible move. “It would be irresponsible to fuel this by allowing greater alcohol consumption during games,” it concluded.
Conversely, the Football Supporters’ Association has welcomed Burnham’s comments, describing the 1985 Act as outdated. The Women’s Super League has already provided a potential blueprint, as beer sales have been permitted during their competitions following successful trials. No official timeline for legislative change has been confirmed, meaning that for now, fans generally continue to visit local pubs before kick-off. Hence I am taking the reins for one edition so that Mr. Church can enjoy as many stouts and joyous conversations as Ireland can offer up before he returns on Monday, ben is enjoying a well-earned mini-vacation on the Emerald Isle. Still, a lot of support for a repeal is arising from certain circles, with the Football Supporters’ Association calling the Sports Events Act of 1985 “outdated,” with its president Tom Greatrex saying, “We welcome the prime minister’s comments and totally agree that the legislation … deserves to be reviewed.”. I guess it’s still off to the pubs (shoutout to the Salmon and Ball in Bethnal Green) before kickoffs.
Upcoming International Soccer Schedule
- Match: Men’s UEFA Nations League, Group A3 – England vs. Spain
- Date/Time: Saturday, 2:45 p.m. ET / 7:45 p.m. local time
- Location: Wembley Stadium, London, England
- Match: Men’s International Friendlies – USMNT vs. Peru
- Date/Time: Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET
- Location: Inter.co Stadium, Orlando, Florida, United States
Beyond domestic policy, the landscape of global soccer remains active. North Korea’s under-20 women’s team continues to demonstrate its dominance as a powerhouse in the sport. After a 3-0 victory against Colombia in the semifinals, the defending champions are set to compete in the final, aiming to secure their fourth U20 Women’s World Cup title. We will be looking at the somewhat quick return of our dear old friend International Soccer – we thought we left you behind for a while after the World Cup, but somehow, you’re back, in today’s edition of the newsletter. Hear from Kylian Mbappé on his chances for the Ballon d’Or, look at the North Korean under-20 women’s team, and we’re debuting a new recurring segment – with your help – about why you love your soccer club, we’ll also take a look at an ugly incident that shows women still have to fight for their place in soccer. Given the Asian nation’s reclusive nature, but North Korea is a women’s soccer powerhouse, particularly on the junior level, it might be a surprise to some. Also finishing runner-up once in 2008, north Korea is the defending champion and has won three U20 Women’s World Cups in total. Oddly, the senior team’s best finish at a Women’s World Cup is the quarterfinals in 2007. And he – quite annoyingly for me as a madridista – failed to win anything with Real Madrid last year, too, so many might be asking why he deserves to win the Ballon d’Or, kylian Mbappé fell short of winning the World Cup in the summer.
However, the sport continues to face internal challenges. The Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer recently terminated the contract of Federico Higuaín, the head coach of their Crew 2 reserve team. The decision followed an investigation by MLS NEXT Pro into an incident where Higuaín reportedly squeezed and refused to release a referee. Additionally, Kylian Mbappé has been actively campaigning for the Ballon d’Or, sharing his perspective on his candidacy for the prestigious award during recent media appearances. Higuaín – who was appointed head coach of the franchise’s reserve squad, Crew 2, in January 2025 – squeezed and refused to let go of a female referee’s hand during a recent MLS NEXT Pro match and told the official, “Don’t forget this is a man’s game.”.
Important Details
- (Spanish editor’s note: Fraser will be on site Saturday to capture some color for Monday’s newsletter, so stay tuned.).
