Post by Taxigirl on Apr 15, 2004 17:55:17 GMT
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3627735.stm
Sven Goran Eriksson is appealing for good behaviour from England football fans at the forthcoming Euro 2004 Championships.
The FA has been warned England will be kicked out of the tournament if evidence of organised violence in Portugal is found.
The England coach will meet several supporters' groups on Thursday night.
The move is part of a wider approach to crack down on orchestrated football hooliganism ahead of the contest.
Banning orders to stop individuals leaving the UK during this summer's championship have been issued to 2,500 people.
Anti-violence message
About 50,000 England fans are expected to travel to the Algarve for Euro 2004.
But the police, the Football Association and the government have tried to ensure the hooligan ringleaders will not be there.
BBC correspondent Nigel Adderley said Sven's meeting with fans was in effect "preaching to the converted".
But the England coach hoped it would help get the anti-violence message publicised.
Exclusion threat
The threat of Uefa ejecting England from the competition on grounds of violent behaviour is real, as England are on a final warning after previous violence.
It is the serious, pre-planned hooliganism that is the major cause for concern.
"They're not going to kick England out if a couple of bars are smashed up in Portugal this summer," said Mr Adderley.
"What they're concerned about is organised football hooliganism, sorted out on the internet weeks before."
"England are very wary of being made an example of, which is why they're going for damage limitation now."
Sven Goran Eriksson is appealing for good behaviour from England football fans at the forthcoming Euro 2004 Championships.
The FA has been warned England will be kicked out of the tournament if evidence of organised violence in Portugal is found.
The England coach will meet several supporters' groups on Thursday night.
The move is part of a wider approach to crack down on orchestrated football hooliganism ahead of the contest.
Banning orders to stop individuals leaving the UK during this summer's championship have been issued to 2,500 people.
Anti-violence message
About 50,000 England fans are expected to travel to the Algarve for Euro 2004.
But the police, the Football Association and the government have tried to ensure the hooligan ringleaders will not be there.
BBC correspondent Nigel Adderley said Sven's meeting with fans was in effect "preaching to the converted".
But the England coach hoped it would help get the anti-violence message publicised.
Exclusion threat
The threat of Uefa ejecting England from the competition on grounds of violent behaviour is real, as England are on a final warning after previous violence.
It is the serious, pre-planned hooliganism that is the major cause for concern.
"They're not going to kick England out if a couple of bars are smashed up in Portugal this summer," said Mr Adderley.
"What they're concerned about is organised football hooliganism, sorted out on the internet weeks before."
"England are very wary of being made an example of, which is why they're going for damage limitation now."