Football: Norwich fans are re-routed: Germans' fear of Canaries forces a long diversion on the road to Munich

NORWICH CITY supporters heading to Germany for tomorrow's Uefa Cup tie with Bayern Munich will be rerouted through Belgium because the authorities fear trouble after the uproar following the performance of Karl-Josef Assenmacher in England's World Cup game against the Netherlands last week.

A service station in Aachen has closed its doors to visiting fans as a precaution against possible reprisals. With his award of a free-kick instead of a penalty and his decision not to send off Ronald Koeman for his foul on David Platt, Assenmacher, the German referee, provoked anger and outrage from the England manager, Graham Taylor, and helped break the hearts of a nation.

Now the 500 travellers, who set off today by coach to Munich for one of the biggest games in Norwich's history, have been told they must go via Liege, bypassing Aachen. Andrew Neville, the club secretary, said: 'Our supporters have no history of causing trouble but we have been told they would not be welcome at the service station.'

The problem came to light at the weekend when Norwich sent a minibus full of officials on reconnaissance.

Efan Ekoku and John Polston are carrying minor knocks, which forced them to miss Saturday's win at Chelsea, but are expected to be fit.