A GANG of football hooligans who started a fight with Turkish fans ended up taking a beating themselves, a court heard.
The hooligans, from West Yorkshire, were warned they could face prison when they are sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court on April 26.
Trouble erupted between the fans when gangs embarked on an orgy of violence following the England versus Turkey Euro 2004 qualifier at the Stadium of Light, in Sunderland, on April 2, last year.
The court heard a group of England fans started a fight with Turkish supporters in a car park after the match.
But they were soon outnumbered as Turks arriving at the car park joined the fight and the English hooligans were forced back into a stairwell where they barricaded themselves behind a door.
Gavin Miller, 22, from Huddersfield, Julian Walmsley, 32, from Wakefield, Noel Crann, 23, of Birstall, and Andrew Donlan, 37, Stephen Burton, 31, and Paul Struthers, 32, all of Mirfield, West Yorkshire, each admitted affray.
The men each denied commiting violent disorder.
At Newcastle Crown Court, Judge Esmond Faulks told the men he would consider banning them from all football grounds in the UK and abroad.
The case was adjourned for pre-sentence reports.
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