Expatica news

Euro fans stink up Basle

10 June 2008

ZURICH – Football fans have caused a stink in Basle by ignoring hundreds of portaloos and insisting on relieving themselves against walls and in the streets, it was reported Tuesday.

The authorities had installed 800 toilets around the city along the 3.2 kilometre Fan Boulevard and elsewhere to supplement the 50 permanent public urinals but residents were already complaining about the smell of urine just four days into Euro 2008, according to the Basler Zeitung daily.

Under city law, going to the toilet in public carries a fine of CHF 50 though fans might be relieved to know they could also pay in euros – EUR 31 to be precise.

The authorities say they have provided enough toilets to happily cope with the needs of 200,000 people, far greater than the numbers of people seen so far.

The city, which saw the Czech Republic beat Switzerland 1-0 Saturday, will host the Swiss national side again in the match with Turkey on Wednesday.

[dpa / Expatica]

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