Thousands of England fans are banned from travelling to Euro 2024 in Germany as the Government bids to clamp down on football hooligans

Thousands of football fans have been banned from following England at this summer’s European Championship due to the government’s clampdown on hooligans.

More than 1,600 fans with football banning orders will be forced to hand over their passports to police from June 4 until the European Championship final on July 14 to ensure they do not try to attend matches in Germany.

Anyone who does not present their passport or does not attempt to travel to Germany will face a heavy fine or a prison sentence, with a maximum sentence of six months.

The new powers to force fans to hand over their passports were introduced after a rise in football-related violence in recent years – police made 2,264 arrests at matches last season and issued 682 new banning orders, the highest figures high since 2011.

“The vast majority of fans respect the law, but we will have zero tolerance for those who disrupt this incredible event,” Police Minister Chris Philp said.

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‘These measures will ensure that true football fans can travel to the tournament safely and will prevent hooligans from committing these crimes abroad. “Violence, abuse and disorder have no place in the game we love.”

Football banning orders are imposed by the courts following a conviction for a football-related offence. This may include violence, disorder, pitch invasions, use of pyrotechnics and online hate crime.

They prevent attendance at regulated football matches for a maximum of five years and up to ten years if a custodial sentence is imposed.