England face Euro booze ban AGAIN as their last-16 game is only the second fixture to be picked as ‘high risk’… before they even know the opponents!

England’s fans will once again be subjected to the booze restrictions – including low-strength beer – when they return to Gelsenkirchen for their last-16 match.

Earlier this month, when the Three Lions opened their Euros campaign against Serbia, supporters could only buy 2.8 per cent pints in the stadium with the match deemed ‘high risk’.

And – despite praise for England’s following and their behaviour throughout the tournament – Mail Sport understands authorities in the German city have made the controversial decision before even knowing whom Gareth Southgate’s side will play.

Earlier today, UEFA said there would be no repeat of the measures, which triggered criticism and which were widely thought to have caused more issues than they solved. But it can now be disclosed that the restrictions will return, in a bizarre move which can only be interpreted as a swipe at England’s fanbase.

Aside from one issue in a restaurant where Serbia fans had gathered, the match earlier this month passed with little incident. Indeed England’s support was praised for the restraint they showed in what was a logistical shambles, with many stranded in the city hours after the game.

England have since played matches in Frankfurt and Cologne, where there were no such restrictions. Again, they have won praise with few issues or arrests.

The first Gelsenkirchen game had been designated ‘high risk’ with local police chief Peter Both, warning of the prospect of ‘500’ Serbian hooligans turning up to cause trouble.

That suggestion perplexed UK officers who were in to Germany to assist, and Gelsenkirchen police later admitted they did not have evidence to back the claim.

Fans groups reacted with dismay at the restrictions, with some pointing out the potentially damaging effect of them keeping England fans in local bars and delaying their arrival at the stadium.

Indeed, one bar in the town reported that Three Lions supporters had sunk over two months’ worth of beer after starting to ‘pre-load’ at 9am, 12 hours before kick-off.

Following the 1-0 win, hundreds of fans were stranded at the city’s station deep into the early hours with the Football Supporters’ Association branding the situation ‘ridiculous’ and highlighting ‘dangerous overcrowding’. Earlier in the evening many missed kick-off thanks to inadequate links from the racecourse fan zone to the stadium.

The FSA hailed the behaviour of those impacted, adding: ‘It was those same England fans who were singled out for a supposed ban on public alcohol consumption in parts of the city centre, a measure that the FSA had warned was unnecessary and potentially counter-productive.’

It remains to be seen whether improvements will be made to transport provision for the clash.