Eriksson calls for party spirit

SVEN-GORAN ERIKSSON has called on all supporters to avoid repeating the kind of sickening violence witnessed before and during England’s Euro 2004 qualifier in Slovakia.

The England coach wants fans “to make football a big party” and recreate the festive spirit demonstrated during the 2002 World Cup finals in Japan and South Korea.

Eriksson, whose side face Macedonia in another qualifier at St Mary’s Stadium tonight, was appalled by the scenes he witnessed from his hotel in Bratislava on Friday evening when two England fans were shot.