Football violence tackled by MEPs

A Europe-wide agreement to prosecute soccer thugs wherever they strike, instead of deporting them, was demanded by MEPs in Strasbourg yesterday.

The call came in a new report demanding a clampdown on soccer violence in the run-up to Euro 96 in Britain, the World Cup in France in 1998 and Euro 2000 in Belgium and the Netherlands.

The report, approved by 285 votes to 152, urged a range of new measures to curb violence on the terraces, including the segregation of rival fans, bans on racist activity and action against football clubs themselves if they failed to crack down on violence and racial hatred.

About 250,000 fans are expected to flood into Britain from the Continent during the European championships, which kick off next month. Many of the proposals contained in the report have already been implemented in Britain.

The Labour MEP Glyn Ford (Greater Manchester East) said the European Parliament was trying to help the Home Secretary to get rid of "racist thugs". He added: "Hooliganism was the scourge of the late 1970s and early 1980s. It threatened to kill the game.

"At a national level we largely have the problem under control. However, there are still big problems when it comes to international matches both between national teams and clubs in European competitions."

Tory MEPs did not back the report, expressing concern that its emphasis on race would only worsen a sensitive problem.