TWO football hooligans who tried to fly to Sweden ahead of last night's England friendly were yesterday banned from attending any matches for three years.

On Tuesday night, police at Newcastle Airport stopped a group of Bradford City supporters they suspected might be involved in causing trouble at matches.

Two of them, aged 32 and 39, were summonsed to appear in court under Section 21 of the Football Spectators Act 1989, preventing them from travelling.

Newcastle magistrates yesterday imposed a three-year banning order on them, preventing them attending any match and from being within five miles of a Bradford City away venue during that time.

They must also surrender their passports five days before an international match and report to a designated police station.

A Northumbria Police spokesman said the men were known hooligans and they were stopped from travelling because officers suspected they may be involved in causing trouble in the future.

Spotters from the Northumbria and West Yorkshire forces had been posted at the airport for five days to prevent hooligans from attending the game.

Detective Sergeant Paul Evans, of the Football Intelligence Unit, said: "This is not just about Euro 2004, we are looking towards the 2006 World Cup in Germany and all qualifying games.

"This message should be a deterrent to those intending to travel and cause trouble."

The police action shows the determination of authorities to crack down on hooliganism ahead of the Euro 2004 championships in Portugal.

England have been warned they will be thrown out of the tournament if there is any outbreak of violence among supporters.

But last night soccer chiefs could breathe a sigh of relief over the behaviour of the England fans.

Swedish police praised their conduct - and locked up 35 home fans who had allegedly planned an inter-club fight near Gothenburg.

* A fan from North Yorkshire was being held by police in Sweden last night for alleged drugs-related offences.

The man is understood to be a 26-year-old from Northallerton, who was in Gothenburg for last night's international. He was being held in custody pending a hearing today.

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