COUNCIL bosses decided that you can watch live opera on giant screens in Bournemouth town centre – but not Friday’s England versus Algeria world cup football match.

They decided rowdy football crowds could be the wrong image for the town and have opted instead for a 7pm broadcast of Carmen from Valencia.

The screens in the lower gardens will also show Wimbledon coverage for the second year in a row but some businessmen are concerned Bournemouth is missing out.

Angus Reid, from Boscombe Traders’ Association, said: “People are concerned we are supporting premium events and not what the people want – which is football.

“I think we have missed out. I think a lot of the traders would have liked to have seen it. If Trafalgar Square can do it, we could look at how they do it.”

However council leader Stephen MacLoughlin said he had been in Brighton during the England versus USA game and complained about the amount of lads getting ‘beered up’.

He said: “My God what a place! To have that in the central gardens would just not be Bournemouth. It’s not what we want to achieve for the town centre and it would deter far more people than would welcome it.”

Town centre manager Roger Parker said: “The reputation of the town is such that we must be selective about what we expose the gardens and beach to, and my view is that football is not one of them.”

He also said a lot of town centre venues were relying on the World Cup for trade and the screen could take that business away.

Mr Parker said of Friday’s opera broadcast: “We are bringing a bit of different culture into the lower garden area. People flock to Valencia to see Carmen. This is something new and exciting.”

The screen debate came during June’s meeting of the Bournemouth chamber of trade on Monday.

Mark Smith, Bournemouth’s director of tourism, had earlier said: “The Opera is a perfect alternative providing a real cultural experience and it’s absolutely free.”