Soccer fan barred world-wide

A soccer fan was facing up to a football-free future yesterday after being barred from matches worldwide for hurling racist abuse at players and fans as he watched his local team.

Magistrates blacklisted Cambridge United fan Daniel James, 21, from every league match in England and Wales for two years. And, at Thursday's hearing, chairman Michael Marriott ordered James, of Cambridge, to report to police in Britain when certain overseas fixtures are being played over the same period. Cambridge United have banned James from their ground for five years and Tony Blair, the Prime Minister, has held up the handling of the case as an example of how to tackle racism in football.