Security fears rise as 500K England and Scotland football fans planning to travel to Germany to watch Euros
HALF a million England and Scotland football fans are planning to travel to Germany to watch the Euros — sparking security fears.
Thousands of supporters will not have tickets, with just 10,000 issued for each team at the initial three group games.
Authorities had expected 300,000 Brits to visit during the month-long tournament, but have now sharply revised estimates upwards to 350,000 England and 150,000 Scotland supporters.
The prospect of huge numbers of ticketless followers raises already serious security concerns, with policing now being ramped up further over terrorist and yob threats.
And thousands of fans are expected to be out of the UK on July 4 for the General Election — the day before the first quarter-final.
Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions are favourites to win, so should still be battling for glory.
A UK-based German diplomatic source told The Sun on Sunday: “The sheer numbers will mean greater resources will have to be directed to host cities where England and Scotland are playing.
“They will all be welcome, but our priority will always be their safety and security.”
Up to 40,000 England fans will be expected at the team’s qualifying group games against Serbia in Gelsenkirchen, Denmark in Frankfurt and Slovenia in Cologne.
Many without match tickets will throng fan zones and bars to watch on TV.
Munich is drafting in more than 2,000 extra cops and fire brigade staff ahead of the arrival of thousands of Scots for the Euros curtain-raiser against Germany on June 14.
Concerns are also spiking for England’s first game — a June 16 clash with Serbia, who are known to have violent fans who back Vladimir Putin’s Russia.
Jihadist IS has also issued attack warnings in the host cities.