Five arrested in World Cup hooligan crackdown

Five known football hooligans have been arrested in dawn raids as part of a pre-World Cup crackdown to enforce football banning orders, police said today.

Five known football hooligans have been arrested in dawn raids as part of a pre-World Cup crackdown to enforce football banning orders, police in the UK said today.

The men, aged between 20 and 44, were detained at addresses in Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Wednesbury, West Midlands, during the first phase of a blitz against fans who have failed to hand in passports.

About 25 officers were involved in the operation to arrest the men yesterday and today at their homes.