Soccer-Rome enforces partial alcohol ban for final

By Daniele Mari

ROME, May 25 (Reuters) - Rome authorities agreed on Monday to enforce a partial ban on the sale of alcohol in areas around the Stadio Olimpico and on the city's metro system ahead of the Champions League final.

Police also said they had confiscated a number of counterfeit tickets for Wednesday's game between Manchester United and Barcelona but were not overly worried by the possible influx of 5,000 ticketless English fans.

Some reports had stated the city was enacting a blanket ban on alcohol but officials said the measures were not that severe.

As frequently happens for European matches in Rome, alcohol in glass containers cannot be sold in the zones around the stadium from 1700 (1500 GMT) on Tuesday until 0600 local time on Thursday.

The sale of any 'takeaway' alcohol is also banned from 1700 to 2300 on Tuesday in the same areas, while the restrictions also apply to all Rome metro and train stations, as well as the port of Civitavecchia.

Glass containers of any sort are banned near the stadium.

Despite fears of violence following incidents involving United and AS Roma fans in the city in recent years, police were hopeful there would be no major trouble.

"We have been informed by the English police that 5,000 people will come to Rome without tickets. It is probable that they will come to visit the city, no one has said they are hooligans," Rome police chief Giuseppe Caruso said.