Police to tackle thugs heading for World Cup

MEASURES to stop more than 1,300 football hooligans travelling to the World Cup in Qatar will kick off this week.

From Friday, the 1,308 violent and abusive fans in England and Wales subject to football banning orders will have to hand in their passports to police. Any who fail to do so face six months in prison and a fine.

Those who want to travel to nations not staging matches will need permission to keep their passports and will face checks.

Police can also stop previous offenders going. In an operation at ports, any caught trying to go to Qatar will be intercepted and face a banning-order court hearing within 24 hours.