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Pubs and police brace for England-Mexico 1am kick-off after Fifa U-turn
Image source, PA Media-
Published
England’s early morning World Cup match against Mexico will kick off as originally planned at 01:00BST (18:00 local time) on Monday, after Fifa U-turned on a plan to bring it forward by six hours.
Sources had told BBC Sport on Friday the fixture at Mexico City Stadium was set to be moved to 19:00 BST on Sunday – but within hours football’s governing body decided against this.
With the last-16 knockout match going ahead in the early hours of Monday morning, businesses, schools and the emergency services in the UK are continuing to prepare for the knock-on effects.
On Thursday Sir Keir Starmer said pubs would be able to stay open until 05:00.
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On Friday evening it had emerged that an earlier kick off was being considered after sources said there was concern about storms being forecast around the stadium at the time the match was due to take place.
The Football Association had also been involved in planning and security discussions after four people died following Mexico’s last-32 victory over Ecuador in Mexico City on Tuesday.
An earlier kick-off time time would have allowed the match to begin before the worst of any thunderstorms but would have ruined the plans of some England fans arriving in Mexico City.
But within hours and after talks, including between the Football Association and Fifa, it was announced in the early hours of Saturday that the game was going ahead as originally planned at 0100BST on Monday.
Image source, PA MediaEngland fans travelling to Mexico City for the match may be relieved they do not have to move their plans around at short notice.
More than 3,000 England fans are set to attend the fixture at the Azteca, which holds 87,000.
Owen Pickering, who is travelling to Mexico with his sons, aged seven, 16 and 23, told BBC’s Radio 4 Today programme it was “lucky it all changed”.
If the kick-off had moved to 12:00 local time he said they “wouldn’t have made the match”, he said.
His journey includes a flight to Orlando, Florida and then from Tampa to Mexico on Sunday, landing around 11:00 – which would have meant he and the eight others he is travelling with would have missed the game.
Pickering arranged for his children to miss school, costing £160 each, and he “took a gamble” on England winning the group stage spending £1,300 on the flights.
“The whole thing has been very expensive,” he added.
On how Fifa handled the U-turn, he said: “It’s rubbish. There’s no thought about anybody travelling to the game… they don’t care if they spoil it for everybody”.
Staying up late Sunday night
Image source, PA MediaIn the UK it is rare for pubs to be allowed to stay open into the early hours of Monday morning.
Sir Keir called the move “good news for supporters and good news for the pubs and venues that bring our communities together”.
Kate Nicholls, Chair of UKHospitality, said it was a “very welcome announcement”.
Pubs have to apply for extended licensing hours to sell alcohol as they plan for the one-off change in opening times.
Pub chain Greene King said more than 600 pubs across England will be staying open late to show the match.
But Wetherspoons has said only five of its more than 800 pubs will remain open for the match.
President of the UK Bartender’s Guild (UKBG) Claudia Carrozi told the BBC hospitality staff working until 05:00 should be given plenty of notice, breaks and it should be considered how they get home.
“Planning is key,” she said.
While pubs have only had since Thursday to prepare and Friday night’s mixed messaging over start time may have confused matters, Corrozi said pubs may have already had a “contingency plan” in place.
She said it is important customers remember people working in pubs during the match are “going the extra mile” and need to be treated with respect.
“Without the staff, this celebration couldn’t happen.”
Police have already criticised the timing of the decision on pub opening hours made only days before the match.
The National Police Chiefs’ Council said the “late announcement” meant officers would have to be taken away from other duties and work longer hours, even though the team’s likely route through the tournament had been known for a considerable time.
It asked that fans drink within sensible limits and be considerate while watching the match.
Late opening for some schools
Image source, Getty ImagesThe impact of the late-night opening hours will trickle into Monday morning as the working week gets under way.
Some schools told the BBC they are planning to open their gates late on Monday morning.
A number of primary and secondary schools in areas including London, Salford, the Midlands and County Durham said they are moving openings to around 10:00.
England squad manager Thomas Tuchel called on schools to let children watch the match.
But Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said while she was “not going to seek to control what schools are doing” it was “important” for pupils to be in school on Monday.
And, some workplaces are also taking a more relaxed approach to the start of the week.
A TUC spokesperson said: “Chopping and changing of kick off time for a crucial England match could be difficult for workers and employers alike.”
The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) Director of policy Kate Shoesmith said for some jobs, such as those with shift work, it will not be possible to work flexibly”.
Travelling to work or doing the school run on Monday morning is also raising some concern.
Motoring organisation the RAC warned people who stay up for the match “shouldn’t drive until they’re fully rested and hydrated”.
Transport for London (TfL) – who operate the London Underground, buses and London Overground in the capital – said services would be operating as usual on Sunday into Monday morning. This means there will be no night Tube.
TfL advise customers to check their journey before they travel and to familiarise themselves with how to travel safely at night., external
Similarly, Manchester’s Bee Network said normal service patterns are in place for Monday. It noted the first buses and trams will start before 05:00 and said customers can make use of their night buses., external

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Do you run a pub or venue where the game will be showing? Do you have concerns about the 1am kick-off time?
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