More than 100 banned hooligans have not handed in their passports ahead of England’s World Cup opener in the United States.
The situation has triggered a ‘final warning’ from the UK’s head of football policing – who has revealed that an operation has now been launched to track down and arrest those yet to do so.
A total of 2,439 thugs are subject to Football Banning Orders across England and Wales, which ban them from attending any match. Of those, 1,978 are also required to surrender their passports during international tournaments.
As of Monday, 94 per cent of those have been handed in at police stations – however, 114 remain outstanding.
England kick their tournament off against Croatia on Wednesday and thousands of Three Lions’ fans are expected in Dallas. Many of those travelling from the UK have already left the country.
A total of 1,978 are required to surrender their passports during international tournaments after receiving Football Banning Orders
Details of those yet to hand passports in have now been shared with American authorities. In the event that any of those who are banned have managed to make it into the US, they could face arrest when they return to the UK.
Chief Constable Mark Roberts, the NPCC lead for football policing, said: ‘Football banning orders are an effective way of dealing with football fans who commit offences at football matches, and as can be seen, the vast majority of those who are subject to the orders have been compliant.
‘Unfortunately, there are a small number of fans who have yet to surrender their passports, and work is ongoing to locate and arrest them.
‘In addition, we have now shared their details with the American authorities, meaning that if they do attempt to attend the World Cup then they will face the full force of the authorities in the USA, as well as those here in the UK when they return.’
