Portugese police poised to dissuade hooliganism
(China Daily)
Updated: 2004-06-11 06:26

A welcoming but firm approach by Portugal's police will help curb violence at Euro 2004, the British diplomat charged with smoothing relations between England fans and Portuguese authorities said on Wednesday.

British government football attache Gary Fisher said 50,000 to 60,000 England supporters were expected to descend on Portugal during the three-week tournament.

Intense liaison between supporters' groups, the British government and Portuguese police had shaped the best way to deal with unruly behaviour, he said.

"Fans like the police to be there, not with a high profile approach but more softly," Fisher said.

"The fans want to be welcomed by the police, but they want them to be ready to step in should things go wrong.

"This access has been of benefit to both sides. They have learned from each other."

Violence involving English fans hit the last European championship in Belgium and the Netherlands in 2000.

England have been warned by European soccer's ruling body UEFA that if their fans misbehave again, the team will be thrown out of the tournament starting on Saturday.

England play their first game against champions France on Sunday in Lisbon.

Banning orders have put a block on 2,200 suspected hooligans attending international or domestic games.

But with so many Britons flocking to Portugal, and the popular Algarve holiday resorts in particular, the tournament was unlikely to pass without a scuffle, Fisher said.

"We're not expecting a clean slate. It would be unrealistic not to expect problems with 50,000 to 60,000 people, just as you get disorder and excessive alcohol consumption in some holiday resorts or in some British cities on a Saturday night," he said.

"But this cooperation has been unprecedented. We feel positive and we're reasonably confident that this tournament will pass off well.

"No one wants to see England sent home," Fisher said.

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