World Cup: Fans gather as suspected hooligans hand in passports

English football fans were today gathering in Greece for their crucial World Cup qualifying clash after the British Home Office cracked down on more than 450 suspected hooligans, ordering them to hand in their passports.

It emerged that a section of Athens’ 74,000 capacity Olympic Stadium is being reserved for England fans turning up on the day without tickets.

Some 30,000 to 40,000 have been sold, of which 3,800 have gone to supporters who have travelled officially with the England Members Club, which is being disbanded after this match.

Part of the stadium’s upper level will be reserved for England fans turning up on the day, with 2,000-3,000 tickets available for them.

In the first large scale use of new powers under the Football Disorder Act, 454 fans who the authorities fear may be intent on causing trouble have been sent letters by the British Home Office ordering them to hand in their passports at local police stations.

The Act was introduced after England fans were involved in a series of violent clashes in Belgium during Euro 2000.