Police chief says difficulty in accessing alcohol and cocaine in Qatar has ‘calming effect’

No England football fans have been arrested – with zero police incidents – in what has been a trouble-free World Cup campaign so far.

The UK Football Policing Unit believe a lack of alcohol at matches and the unavailability of cocaine, allied with good behaviour from those who have travelled to Qatar, has prevented even ‘a whiff of trouble’.

Indeed, they believe that you would have to go back as far as Mexico 1970 to find a tournament where a similar situation has unfolded following four matches.

Chief Superintendent Steve Graham, currently the most senior British officer here, hailed those who have travelled to follow the Three Lions.

The UK Football Policing Unit believe a lack of alcohol at matches and the unavailability of cocaine has prevented even ‘a whiff of trouble’. Fans during the England vs Senegal match

‘Clearly, the difficulty in accessing alcohol and cocaine has had a calming effect on some of our supporters,’ he said. ‘But they also deserve praise for the carnival atmosphere that has existed, with fans from different countries happily mixing and enjoying the World Cup.

‘There has not even been a whiff of trouble. The bars fans have been using are well run and, while they have been busy, there has not even been a situation where people have been asked to leave because of bad behaviour. Any issues we’ve been aware of have involved fans from other countries.’

Chief Supt Graham added that considerable time had passed since a similar scenario unfolded, with England trips to major tournaments from the 1982 onwards regularly marred by ugly incidents.

‘Any issues we’ve been aware of have involved fans from other countries,’ Chief Superintendent Steve Graham said. Fans during the England vs Senegal match

‘I think we might have to go back to Ron Greenwood’s days,’ he said. ‘Certainly there isn’t an officer serving out here who has known a tournament like this.’

As Sportsmail previously reported, fewer England fans were in Doha for their last-16 thumping of Senegal, with a figure of around 7,200 down on the more than 10,000 here for the group stages.

However, between 12,000 and 15,000 are expected at the quarter-final against France, with more still likely to travel should Gareth Southgate’s side clear a not insignificant hurdle and reach the semis.