Banning England fans from drinking strong lager at Euros is ‘discriminatory’….‘we’re being picked on’, minister says

SERVING England fans shandy beers instead of full-strength booze at the Euros is “discriminatory”, a Government minister has blasted.

Policing Minister Chris Philp declared offering Three Lions followers “watered-down” pints at England’s opening game against Serbia on Sunday was “completely unfair”.

The heavy-handed security measures threatened to spark a diplomatic incident with the minister fuming: “We should not be getting picked on in that way.”

It comes after tournament mandarins in Germany scrapped full-strength booze amid fears Serbian yobs are planning to face off with tipsy English footy followers at the 62,000-seater Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen.

England fans had been looking forward to throwing back the 4.8 per cent strength Bitburger Premium in stadium bars but the brew will now be replaced by the much weaker 2.5 per cent “Radler-style” beer — half lager and half citrus soda.

Speaking to our Never Mind The Ballots election countdown show, Policing Minister Chris Philip blasted: “If England fans have somehow been picked out or singled out and served watered-down beer based on their nationality, that sounds to me completely unfair.

“And probably discriminatory – we should not be getting picked on in that way.”

Risk ratings were ramped up from “high” to “very high” for Sunday’s clash with Serbia amid fears 500 hardcore pro-Putin footy yobs will travel to spark clashes with England fans.

Worries were amplified by a UEFA ban on segregation in the stadium — putting rival supporters next to each other in mixed seating.

Gelsenkirchen police spokesman Stephan Knipp told The Sun: “It is just the England game which will have the low-strength beer. The other games at the stadium will have 4.8 per cent.”

England fans will also be subjected to a last-minute booze ban in the city centre before the kick-off at 8pm UK time.

England’s last Euros opener abroad was in 2016, when highly organised Russian yobs — believed to be state-sponsored — put scores of Three Lions fans in hospital in Marseille, France.

An estimated 40,000 England fans are expected to travel to Sunday’s game, along with 8,000 Serbs, plus more from Serbian communities in Germany.

Speaking about the safety of England fans in Germany, he said: “It’s really important that these games pass off peacefully.

“I know there are UK police officers over in Germany, helping the German police, targeting and looking at monitoring fans that might cause a problem.

“Fans that are violent and might cause a problem are not allowed to travel because they have banning orders.”

Heavy-handed German cops have also said they will step in and fine anyone wearing a fake footy top under strict counterfeit and trademark laws.

Police officers will reportedly be able to issue fines of up to £4,000 – although it is unclear if authorities are actually planning to enforce the law.

Mr Philp said the matter was “something you wouldn’t expect the police to get involved in”.

He went on: “I don’t know the details but it does sound quite heavy-handed.

“Certainly as far as a ban is concerned, they might get involved in stopping people selling fake shirts – that would be a usual thing for them to be involved in.

“I obviously in no way condone using (fake) shirts. I think you should buy shirts from legitimate vendors because that money goes back into the grassroots.

“So people should not be buying fake shirts.”