A fan of the England national team became a social media hero after setting a peculiar “record” during the match against Serbia. He found himself alone on the stadium.
Two months’ worth of beer was consumed in 36 hours
The England – Serbia match in the European Football Championship Group C tournament took place on June 16 at the Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen. The match, attended by almost 49,000 spectators, ended in a 1:0 victory for the English. The only goal was scored by Jude Bellingham.
After the match, there was a scuffle between English and Serbian fans in the city. The English fans attacked a bar where the Serbians were relaxing, but the Brits were chased away.
The reason for the aggression was simple – the consumption of large amounts of alcohol. According to The Daily Mirror, in the restaurant that the English fans declared their “headquarters,” they consumed the amount of beer usually sold in two months in just 36 hours. To the relief of the restaurant owners, the revelry was limited to dancing on tables – the fans preferred to vent their aggression outside.
Good morning!
The tense atmosphere in Gelsenkirchen was also due to transportation issues.
ESPN journalist James Olley reported that fans were stranded at the local train station for several hours: “The main train station in Gelsenkirchen is crowded with fans still trying to leave, but either the trains aren’t coming or they’re delayed.”
However, the fan who became a social media hero didn’t notice any of these events. He filmed his video at the Veltins-Arena around 4 am the next day. The man, who was severely hungover, admitted that he fell asleep at the game, which wasn’t very exciting. As a result, after the match, he slept on the stands for at least five hours, remaining unnoticed by the security staff and arena personnel. His fellow fans also didn’t disturb the Brit.
Social media expressed sympathy for the fan, noting that the night in Gelsenkirchen was quite cool and the man’s health could have been affected. At the same time, some British commentators pointed out that if the England national team continues to play such a pragmatic style of football, the number of spectators sleeping at the next match could significantly increase.
In search of Uncle Douglas: how an English drunk made a name for himself at the World Cup in Russia
Such incidents involving alcohol are common among English fans. During the 2018 World Cup in Russia, a resident of Bristol, Douglas Morton, went missing. His relatives raised the alarm: “He was at the World Cup in Russia. The last time he was seen was on July 6, 2018, at a hotel on Sorokina Street, 36 in Samara. But we also know that he went to the nearby ‘McDonald’s.’ He was at the England national team game in the city and was supposed to take a train to Moscow the next day… I will update if we learn anything new – I hope we will be informed soon that he has been found. But if you see my (uncle), ask him to contact us. He is 5 feet 5 inches tall, has a Bristol accent, always wears glasses, and has a beard on his face.”
It quickly became known that a man in his sixties with a very distinctive appearance had already experienced a lot in Russia.
ITV News journalist Dan Halls posted a photo on social media on June 23 of the unkempt man in glasses and dirty shirt, accompanied by the caption: “This is Douglas. He lived with us in a hotel in Volgograd. We bumped into him in Nizhny Novgorod, and he said he left the tickets for the next match at home in Bristol. If anyone has a spare ticket, let me know.”
The next day, the reporter wrote that a ticket for the fan had been found, but now they couldn’t find Douglas himself.
Countries change, habits do not
The search for Morton ended in Moscow. Moscow police officers found him in one of the city’s hotels. The Moscow Interior Ministry press service stated that no criminal actions were taken against the British citizen. The embassy staff was informed of his whereabouts.
The “missing” man was heavily intoxicated, had no interest in the England national team match, and clearly did not understand why so many people were interested in his identity. Morton, who later safely returned home, represents the classic English football tourism school, where European and World Championships are just an excuse for a month-long alcohol-filled party.
And here, countries and cities may change, but English habits do not.