One hopes that the Loire Prefecture knows what it is doing. For tonight's potentially high-risk, second-round World Cup game between England and Argentina in St Etienne, the prefecture has decided to impose only a partial ban on the sale of alcohol, with bars in St Etienne and eight neighbouring communes allowed to sell alcohol up until 11 p.m.
Given that alcohol has been a major ingredient in disturbances and hooligan behaviour by English fans over the years - most recently before England's opening World Cup game against Tunisia in Marseilles on June 15th - the decision seems to fly in the face of danger.
Speaking to reporters yesterday, however, the Loire Prefect, Mr Jean-Yves Audoin, explained that a total ban on alcohol sales had not been imposed because the enforcement of such a ban would, in itself, divert too many policemen from their No 1 priority, namely hooligan-watch.
Five World Cup games have already been played without untoward incident at St Etienne but, given the nature of tonight's game and the possibility of fighting between English and Argentine fans, the police presence has been increased to 1,500 from the 900strong force on duty for previous games.
Traditional English-Argentine tensions, highlighted by Britain's disputed sovereignty over the Falkland Islands (Malvinas), has led to speculation that right-wing Argentine groups might choose tonight's match to create a serious riot.
Although a planned jazz concert in St Etienne is to go ahead, the prefecture has banned the live screening of the match in the town's central JeanJaures Square, considered too small for the large numbers of ticketless fans who might congregate there.
This decision is also influenced by the precedent of Marseilles, where fighting broke out between Tunisian and English fans watching the match on a giant screen on the beach.
Mr Audoin hopes to repeat the largely successful policing arrangements set in place for England's most recent game, against Colombia in Lens. Working in close cooperation with British and Argentine police, it is hoped to identify potential troublemakers at border controls, railway stations, airports and, finally, outside St Etienne's Geoffroy Guichard stadium itself.
Furthermore, the state prosecutor, Mr Brice Robin, has promised "quick and firm decisions" regarding serious penal infringement, such as the assault on Mr Daniel Nivel, the policeman still in a serious condition after being attacked by German hooligans before Germany's game with Yugoslavia at Lens on June 21st.
In that regard, the French Interior Ministry yesterday confirmed the latest World Cup "scoreline" on hooligans. So far, 726 mainly English and German fans have been detained, at least overnight, while 82 have been brought to court, with 44 receiving prison sentences or fines and 15 being expelled from France.