Swedes face Brighton pub ban for big game (From The Argus)

Swedes face Brighton pub ban for big game

3:40pm Friday 15th June 2012 in News By Bill Gardner

A pub boss could ban Sweden supporters from watching tonight’s game against England because of fears of a brawl between rival fans.

Mark Such, manager of the King and Queen pub in Marlborough Place, Brighton, said he would “make a decision on the night” whether to allow Swedish fans in to watch the crunch Euro 2012 match.

He said: “I have to think of everybody so we might not want a situation where we’ve got both sets of supporters in.

“It could get pretty rowdy. It’s not fair on people if there’s trouble.”

Mr Such said he expected the pub to be full to capacity by 5pm, almost three hours before kick-off.

He said: “I’ve been managing this pub for three years and I’m sure there will be an amazing atmosphere.

“It’s a massive game and no one is talking about anything else.”

Other pubs in the city said they were also gearing up for a busy night.

Emily Bowles from the Smugglers pub in Ship Street said they expected to be full of fans cheering on the England team.

She said: “We are all looking forward to the game.

“We’re expecting a full house for the match and there’s a real buzz of excitement for the England squad to do well. “

Octopus prediction

But fans expecting a win for the Three Lions might feel like suckers if Sherloctopus the Octopus from Hastings is right.

The eight-legged mystic, who lives at the town’s Blue Reef Aquarium, uses plastic jars with the flag of the competing teams to make his predictions and says tonight’s game will be a draw.

So far the giant Pacific octopus has had a mixed tournament – he predicted an England win against France.

Blue Reef’s Hannah Deeble said: “Sherloctopus may lack the precise predictive powers of Paul the German octopus but he’s clearly an England fan at heart and, perhaps like the team themselves, he’s taking his time to warm up.”