Beer to be sold at French League Cup final

Paris - Alcoholic beer will be sold at the Stade de France for the final of the French League Cup, the French football league (LFP) announced on Tuesday.

The sale and consumption of alcohol is not usually allowed at French sporting events, while alcohol advertising is strictly prohibited.

But for the match on April 23 between Lille and Paris Saint-Germain, the LFP want to show that beer "does not create hooligans".

"Beer is something that we have been requesting for a number of seasons, and we have found a positive response from the council of Saint-Denis," said Arnaud Rouger, the sporting director of the league, referring to the Paris suburb where the Stade de France is located.

"It is for beer, but not other alcohol. The argument is a user-friendly one. With the doors opening at 17:00 (kick-off is at 21:00), we can bring people into the stadium for pre-match entertainment, rather than them staying outside to eat.

"This is an unusual request, but it is not something extraordinary."