Suspected hooligan 'will contest banning order'

An English suspected football hooligan who tried to board a plane to Portugal will contest a police application for a football banning order, a British court was told today.

Ryan Elsey was arrested at Bristol Airport yesterday afternoon as part of a police operation to prevent violence at Euro 2004, which kicks off in Portugal tomorrow.

Avon and Somerset Police said officers intercepted the 26-year-old from Manadon, Plymouth, following a tip-off from Devon and Cornwall Police.

Elsey, who had a ticket for a flight to Portugal, appeared at North Somerset Magistrates’ Court today, where police applied for a football banning order.

Owen Strickland, defending, told the court that Elsey would contest the order.

Elsey was granted conditional bail by magistrates. Conditions included surrendering his passport and travel documents, not purchasing any further travel documents and not attending any football matches in the UK or abroad.

The case was adjourned for a pre-trial review at North Somerset Magistrates’ Court on June 17.