England soccer hooligans face three-country ban

Football hooligans trying to reach Slovakia for England’s Euro 2004 qualifier will be banned from neighbouring Austria and the Czech Republic, police said today.

The UK authorities see Austria and the Czech Republic as possible transit routes for hooligans and hailed an “historic” agreement with the two countries ahead of next Saturday’s game.

A spokesman for the National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS) said: “There is no doubt that the tremendous co-operation we received from the Japanese authorities during the World Cup played a crucial role in preventing trouble.

“This is something we are keen to emulate every time England plays abroad and we are delighted that Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Austria have indicated that they will refuse entry to anyone who may pose a threat to the game.”

All English fans subject to banning orders, together with others who have been profiled by NCIS, will be refused entry into all three countries.

A total of 1,130 people are currently subject to banning orders and are required to hand in their passports to police in the five days before an England game.