U.K. government to ban 3,000 football hooligans from World Cup

The authorities in the U.K. have announced plans to prevent over 3,000 convicted football hooligans from traveling to South Africa later this year to follow the English national team as it competes in the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

While football hooliganism is not a problem unique to the U.K. it is the actions of hooligans there that have often attracted headlines around the world. There are seemingly no signs that the problem is getting any worse - indeed last month the Home Office confirmed that there were 3,752 arrests at matches in England and Wales in the 2008/09 season, a fall of two percent from the previous season - but back in September Digital Journal did report on how a relatively insignificant cup match between London rivals West Ham United and Millwall was marred by fighting between literally hundreds of fans. In an attempt to address what has been a shadow hanging over football in the U.K. for some four decades now authorities have handed down banning orders to around 3,200 hooligans. As the Press Association reports the orders not only prevent convicted hooligans from attending matches in England but they also require those hooligans to hand their passports in to police before any international football matches. However, because of the length of the tournament in South Africa later in the year, it runs from June 11 through July 11, the British Parliament would need to pass specific measures to allow Home Secretary Alan Johnson to prevent the hooligans from traveling to South Africa through the imposition of what the Press Association describes as a "control period". And a spokesman for Mr Johnson's department has indicated that the intention is to ask Parliament to permit such restrictions on the movements of near to 3,200 individuals. The Home Office has emphasized the effectiveness of the banning orders in reducing violence at England matches during the last 10 years and noted that it does not believe people will be making their way to South Africa intent on causing trouble. Nevertheless it has been stated too that there will be no complacency on the part of the U.K. authorities, AFP quoting the Home Office spokesman as saying:

Police will monitor all England fans on departure and intercept any known to pose a risk of violence or disorder, and we are working closely with South African authorities to help minimise any safety and security risks associated with hosting a major football tournament

This summer's tournament will be the first occasion on which the finals of the world's most prestigious football competition are held in Africa. England, the only nation from the U.K. to qualify for the tournament, will be facing the U.S., Algeria and Slovenia in the first round matches.