Priti Patel vows to confiscate passports from abusive fans ahead of World Cup

'They will not go to Qatar', the Home Secretary said

Priti Patel has warned England fans that they will receive travel bans if they are identified as attacking or abusing players ahead of the World Cup. Gareth Southgate's men head to this winter's tournament in Qatar as favourites following their Euro202o heroics. At the last World Cup in Russia England came agonisingly close after losing to Croatia in the semi-final. They will be looking to progress beyond that this time out, but some fans may be prevented from making the trip out if they are found to have been abusive towards players or fans in the run-up to the tournament. The Home Secretary has announced that supporters will have to surrender their passports in a new government crackdown on hooliganism. "There is a very real danger to football hooligans of having their passports taken from them for six weeks," she said. "Their freedom and liberties will be restricted and they will not go to Qatar if they receive the football ban order." Last season saw a rise in anti-social behaviour and crowd trouble at grounds, and Patel added that football banning orders are being beefed up. "We are strengthening them to make sure that those people who cause disruption will feel the full force of the law," she said. About 1,400 troublemakers were hit with banning orders in the 2020-21 season, 50 per cent lower than the number recorded in 2010-11. Related links:

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