UK football fans faced being breathalysed under new scheme

British football fans face being breathalysed before entering stadiums across the country to stop drunken behaviour at matches.

According to the Daily Star, if successful, the scheme could be rolled out at Premier League grounds in the future.

For starters, Cambridge United will roll out the initiative at their home game against Burton Albion today.

The Daily Star reports that stewards at Cambridge's Abbey Stadium will be presented with breathalyser devices called AlcoBlows to test fans as they enter the ground. Anyone who looks to be drunk will be asked to blow into the device.

If they are found to be twice the legal drink drive limit, they will be refused admission.

Sergeant Ian Wood of Cambridgeshire Police said there were a number of alcohol-related laws around sporting events and these included the offence of trying to enter a sports ground while drunk.

Critics, however, have hit out at the scheme calling it "unnecessary" as football arrests were at their lowest point ever.

Amanda Jacks of the Football Supporters' Federation was quoted, assaying that only eight arrests were made at Cambridge United home games, and a further eight at away games last season.