Liechtenstein set to shut borders for England visit

Liechtenstein is prepared to seal off its borders to prevent hooligans and ticketless fans entering the country before the Euro 2004 qualifier with England on 29 March.

The Rheinpark Stadium, thought to be the world's smallest international venue in the world, can hold only 3,500, and it is thought that at least 1,000 England supporters will travel without tickets. England have 900 tickets for the game. "It's a big problem we have to solve, so we may not let them enter our country without a ticket," the Liechtenstein FA Vice President Fredi Hilti said. "We can make border controls and check fans' tickets. We only have a few borders, so it should be easy." Though Liechtenstein has been working with Swiss and German authorities, only 30 police officers have been given riot training and their station in Vaduz has just two cells. But the Principality is confident they have enough information about known English hooligans and Hilti added: "We're more worried about Swiss and German hooligans."

The England game will provide useful experience before Turkey visit Vaduz later this year as around 1.5m Turks live within 100 miles of the country and around 10,000 may travel without tickets.