Japan and Korea turn away 17 England fans

Seventeen England fans have been turned away from the World Cup by Japan and Korea, police said yesterday.

The cases of several more are being assessed, Assistant Chief Constable Ron Hogg, the leading British police officer assisting the Japanese, told reporters in Tokyo.

Of those turned away by 6am yesterday, six cases followed information exchanged between the British and Japanese authorities, a Home Office spokeswoman said.

Mr Hogg, of Durham Constabulary, said that about 1,000 England fans had arrived in Japan so far, hoping to watch England's first game against Sweden in Saitama, just outside Tokyo, on Sunday.

In all 8,000 are due to attend the match, but Mr Hogg said: "I would expect there to be some small disorder, but I don't expect serious disorder at all."

More than 1,000 fans are subject to orders preventing them from travelling. The National Criminal Intelligence Service has supplied details to the Japanese authorities of another 324 people who are expected to be refused entry.