The decision has been taken by Birmingham City Council following trouble at open air screenings during the Euro 2004 tournament.

Critics have accused the council of bowing to the mindless minority.

But Councillor John Alden said they are acting on police advice and would be criticised if someone was hurt.

'Fan park'

Live matches will not be shown on the BBC screen outside the city's library or in nearby Centenary Square.

Mr Alden, a Conservative councillor, said: "We've been advised by the police on safety grounds that it is their considered opinion.

"We have to listen to the police in these instances because if we did put it say in Victoria Square and one person was hurt because of trouble we'd have been criticised heavily at the end of June."

What we've got to look to is putting in place some security measures Councillor Ian Ward, Labour

Instead the council and a mobile phone company are planning to stage a "fan park" during the competition away from the city centre at Millennium Point.

Crowds will be limited to 3,000 and fans will have to pay �3.50 each to get in.

But Labour councillor Ian Ward said the games should be shown in the city centre just as they were two years ago.

"I don't think things should be run or controlled by a mindless minority who caused problems in Broad Street during the European championships," he said.

"What we've got to look to is putting in place some security measures so people who want to watch these games can to so in safety."