The Lone Star State was ablaze with Three Lions pride as England's thunderous 4-2 win over Croatia sparked a frenzy of festivities in Dallas. In the midst of the electric atmosphere at AT&T Stadium and surrounding fan zones, six fans found themselves on the wrong side of the law, arrested for a range of offences from dodgy dealings to reckless behaviour. A staggering 45,349 pints of beer were quaffed by England supporters at Texas Live alone, while in nearby pubs, mayhem ensued with one watering hole forced to shut its doors due to property damage.
Arlington Police Department confirmed the six arrests: three for drugs-related charges, one for public intoxication, one for trademark counterfeiting (worth a whopping £1,889-£22,679), and one for criminal trespass. Interestingly, none of those detained were British nationals. In addition to these incidents, two scuffles broke out inside the stadium but were swiftly diffused by security staff before police intervention was required.
The arrest for breaching security has raised eyebrows, with claims that some fans managed to slip in without proper checks. However, Fifa maintains it's unaware of any supporters gaining entry without valid tickets – a stance echoed by concerns over 'tailgating' at UK football matches, where ticketless fans storming the pitch is now a serious offence.
As England celebrated its victory, ITV reported an astonishing 14 million viewers tuned in to witness the Three Lions rise above Croatia. The match's peak audience of 15.4 million made it the highest-viewed broadcast of the year so far. Former England captain Sir David Beckham praised the team's "brilliant performance" and the "togetherness" they displayed, reflecting the nation's fervent interest in their World Cup campaign.