Football centres face ban on drink

THE SALE and consumption of alcohol could be banned from entire towns and city districts for up to 24 hours at a time, to prevent violence at football matches, under Government proposals announced yesterday.

Suspected hooligan ringleaders could also have their passports confiscated for five days before international games without the police obtaining a criminal conviction.

There are additional plans to outlaw indecent chanting by supporters during games.

The measures are part of Government plans to crack down on violence and mayhem in and around football stadia. Civil liberty campaigners yesterday criticised some of the proposals and warned they would be open to abuse.

Among the initiatives unveiled yesterday are plans to set a curfew on the sale and consumption of alcohol on match days where police believe hooliganism is likely. Kate Hoey, the Home Office minister, said yesterday that in extreme cases large areas of cities could be made alcohol-free zones.

She suggested that drinking could also be outlawed in pubs along routeways and areas around train stations used by fans. This could include a ban on the sale of alcohol in supermarkets and outdoor drinking.

The ban would affect both football followers and members of the public alike.

The consultation document, Review of Football-Related Legislation, says: "This measure ... would be for use only on those exceptional situations where police and intelligence reports indicate the potential for significant levels of trouble."

In another move the Government and police propose to introduce a law that would allow the courts to force suspected troublemakers, who have not been convicted of any crimes, to hand over their passports for five days. The police would only have to show a court that they had "reasonable grounds" to believe that the suspects are "likely" to become involved in violence.

But Liz Parratt, campaigns manager of Liberty, the civil rights group, said: "Any measure based on the logic of `we know he's guilty but can't prove it' should ring alarm bells."

Racist chanting by one person will also become an offence under the proposals - at present it has to be at least two people in "unison". But the plans also suggest outlawing "indecent" chanting, which could hit supporters who delight in shouting obscene abuse at referees and players.

Ministers hope to use a Private Member's Bill in this session of Parliament to implement most of these proposals, however observers believe many of the more controversial plans are likely to face opposition and could be delayed before the European Championships in 2000.