UEFA have ruled out any change to the kick-off time for England's Euro 2000 match against Germany in June, despite fears of possible trouble.
The tie in Charleroi on June 17th is due to start at 8.45 p.m. local time, and Belgian organisers have already launched a security review. According to Charleroi's mayor it is "the match people are dreading". There are no flights out scheduled for after the match and local accommodation for the thousands of fans is limited.
The English Football Supporters' Association admit to some concern over the possibility of trouble occurring between rival fans and will visit Charleroi on a fact-finding mission.
But UEFA insist the kick-off time cannot be changed and are confident their security arrangements will cope with any potential trouble. A UEFA spokesperson said: "The draw is the draw and we are sticking to it. The kick-off time cannot be changed."
The English FA have been allocated 5,100 tickets for the 30,000 capacity stadium. FA spokesman Adrian Bevington insists England fans will be in the vanguard of preventing trouble.
"Through the England Members Club we have got a Euro 2000 party which is made up of supporters and we will be looking to establish links with Charleroi and Eindhoven in the very near future," said Bevington.
