A FOOTBALL fans' chief has warned England supporters of the risks of travelling to England's European Championship qualifier in Turkey next month.

Kevin Miles, from Wallsend, North Tyneside, who is international co-ordinator with the Football Supporters' Federation, has returned from a three-day fact finding trip to the Turkish capital, Istanbul.

The Football Association has declined its allocation of tickets for the match on Saturday, October 11, and has advised fans to stay away over fears that violence will erupt between rival fans.

Dozens of arrests were made following the England-Turkey match at Sunderland's Stadium of Light in April, in which England fans were accused of racist abuse and fought with police outside the ground.

Mr Miles said he had been assessing the risks for English fans and seeing how easy it would be to buy black market tickets.

He said he was advised by police that there would be three cordons around the ground to prevent entry to the stadium, while ticket and identification checks would also take place.

Mr Miles said: "I do not think buying a ticket will be problematic, but what will be more problematic will be getting into the ground.

"The difficulty is that a lot of experienced travellers know that what is promised by police and the authorities does not always materialise.

"Istanbul is usually a lovely place to visit, but it will be a hostile place that weekend.

"There will be a serious risk to the personal safety of England fans because of the history and tensions that are clearly present."

Mr Miles warned there was a culture of carrying weapons among some sections of Turkish society, and said it would be unwise for British fans to rely on the police for help in the event of trouble.

The federation will have representatives at Istanbul Airport to advise English fans who do arrive on what to do.

Mr Miles said: "It is inevitable that some English fans will travel, there are a number that have already booked their accommodation and flights well in advance."