Euro 2024 fans work out real reason cups are being thrown on the pitch during games

EURO 2024 fans are working out the real reason why avalanches of cups are being hurled onto the pitch during games - potentially endangering the players and match officials.

It seems like every major tournament, some kind of issue in the stands provokes debate - remember the noisy vuvuzelas in the World Cup 2010?

This time, at EURO 2024 it seems to be plastic and paper cups littering the pitch, sometimes even causing games to be stopped and players to duck as the missiles are launched their way.

One poster on social media said: “First year that I'm watching the euro games live -- noticing a significant number of empty cups being thrown on the field, particularly during corners.

“Is this a thing in all international competitions? I feel like I don't see that in Copa or world cups, but maybe I just haven't paid enough attention/ gotten the right camera angles.

"Such a dumb thing for people to do”

During Monday’s clash between Croatia and Italy, cups poured down onto the pitch from the stands and players were seen kicking them off the pitch and trying to avoid hitting them from corners. One Italy player was even hit in the back by a flying cup.

At another, an Italian pass was almost misplaced because it hit a cup on the pitch and took all the sting out.

BBC One commentators Danny Murphy and Johnathan Pearce also noticed the issue as they felt the beer dregs splash them.

Murphy said: “We’re getting soaked,” a Pearce added: “We’re getting absolutely drenched up here.

“This cannot continue, the cups being thrown from the stands.

“Players are experiencing plastic cups being thrown at the pitch and it’s happening more and more.

“I was speaking to some Germans yesterday and they were saying they won’t let it carry on. They will stop people drinking.”

Yesterday Denmark were ordered to pay £7,500 after their fans unfurled an anti-UEFA banner during their 1-1 draw with England.

Last week Serbia fans threw lot of plastic cups onto the pitch during their 1-1 draw with Slovenia and the stadium announcer was forced to intervene by telling supporters to stop.

Slovenian players were seen picking up the objects from the penalty area and officials had to briefly stop play while the area was cleared.

Some have suggested that the cheap deposit prices for cups, combined with the ability to drink them on the terraces during games (unlike in the UK) is the reason for the problem becoming so widespread at this tournament.

Sources suggest fans have to pay €3 per cup as a deposit in addition to another €6 for each beer, but it doesn’t seem to be tackling the problem, which is being seen from sets of fans of nearly every nationality.

In the UK, drinking in the stands is strictly prohibited, with fans having to down beers in bars before heading back to the seats without alcohol.

UEFA has not yet given an official comment about the plague of cups or what it will do to stop it.

And last night, even England boss Gareth Southgate could not escape the barrage of drinking vessels as cups of beer rained down on him during the final whistle, something which may yet prompt a UEFA charge against England.