Amsterdam police chief criticize shop owners for selling booze to English football fans

Amsterdam police chief Pieter-Jaap Aalbersberg is annoyed at a number of supermarkets in the Red Light District, that bought extra beer and liquor to sell to English football supporters who came to the Dutch capital to watch the Netherlands vs England practice match. These supermarkets did not take their responsibility to prevent drunken football hooligans rampaging through the city, according to him, Het Parool reports.

"Supermarkets bought extra cans to take with them. First earn a lot, and then they are drunk and we have a problem", an annoyed Albersberg said to Amsterdam broadcaster AT5. The fact that the match was played on a Friday meant that many of the British supporters made a multi-day trip to Amsterdam. As a result the police had their hands full with "three days of 5 thousand stupid-drunk people".

According to the police chief, supermarkets - like bars and restaurants - have a social responsibility in this kind of situation. He calls for a combination of measures in which football supporters with a ticket for the match are always transported back home immediately after the match. Three days of binge drinking, followed by massive effort to rebuild the city is unacceptable, he said.