The Home Office has announced strict new measures in an
attempt to curb the violence of England supporters in Euro 2004.
A record number of suspected hooligans will be banned from
travelling to Portugal; nearly 2,700 people will be subject to
banning orders of bail conditions. For Euro 2000, there were only 100 such banning orders in
place. Police officers will be at ports and airports and
Portuguese authorities will be carrying out passports checks and
vehicle searches. Home Office minister Caroline Flint said, “Everyone
involved wants it to be a genuine festival of football and we are
determined not to let a thuggish minority ruin the tournament for
genuine supporters.” More than 5,000 England supporters are expected to travel to
Portugal for the games. The Tournament kicks off on 12 June and
England’s first game, against France, is the following day.ARCHIVE: 4th week TT 2004
Crackdown on Euro hooligans’ violence
