Thousands of football fans have been banned from following England at this summer’s European Championship under a government clampdown on hooligans.
Over 1600 fans with football banning orders will be forced to surrender their passports to the police from 4 June until the European Championship final on 14 July to ensure they do not attempt to attend matches in Germany.
Anyone failing to hand in their passport or attempting to travel to Germany will face a large fine or prison term, with a maximum sentence of six months.
The new powers to enforce fans to surrender passport have been introduced following a surge in football-related violence in recent years, with police making 2264 arrests at matches last season and issuing 682 new banning orders, the highest figures since 2011.
‘The vast majority of fans are law-abiding, but we will have zero tolerance for those who disrupt this incredible event,’ said Policing Minister Chris Philp.
Thousands of England fans have been banned from travelling to Euro 2024 in Germany
The UK Government are attempting to crack down on the rise in football hooliganism
‘These measures will ensure true football fans can travel to the tournament safely and prevent hooligans from committing these crimes abroad. Violence, abuse, and disorder have no place in the game we love.’
Football banning orders are imposed by courts following a conviction for a football-related offence. This can include violence, disorder, pitch invasions, use of pyrotechnics and online hate crime.
They prevent people from attending regulated football matches for up to five years, and up to ten years if a custodial sentence is imposed.
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