Police slap bans on more England fans

Last updated at 11:27 12 June 2004


England fans who engage in racist chanting at Euro 2004 face being banned from future tournaments, police said today.

Teams of undercover British police officers will record groups of rowdy supporters on video.

The pictures will then be used against them in British courts as the authorities seek to increase the number of badly-behaved fans barred from following the national team.

The move was announced after a group of around two dozen English fans were heard chanting racial abuse about Turks and Pakistanis in the centre of Lisbon yesterday.

A total of 22 England fans have already been stopped from leaving the UK for Portugal ahead of Euro 2004.

Security operation

They have been intercepted at airports in a security operation launched on Monday.

Some of those stopped have already appeared in court and received banning orders, while others have been given bail conditions which prevent them from travelling.

Three English people have also been arrested in Portugal ahead of the tournament - they were all held in the Algarve for ticket touting offences.

David Swift, head of the British policing operation in Portugal, said: "Twenty two individuals have been stopped since the start of the week and this will continue to happen through the tournament."

He said the total number of England fans subject to banning orders now stands at just under 2,300 with another 500 cases going through the courts.

Mr Swift said the police had the passports of more than 90 per cent of those subject to banning orders.

Around 23,000 people have arrived in Portugal from the UK this week, he said.

"That figure does include many holidaymakers who have no intention of doing anything in relation to Euro 2004."

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