DAVID Beckham stunned North-East football fans last night when he said it may be necessary for England's next crucial Euro 2004 qualifier to be played behind closed doors.

The England captain said such a drastic move - which would see 35,000 fans locked out of the Riverside stadium in Middlesbrough - could be the only way to stamp out the hooligans who marred last month's clash with Turkey at the Stadium of Light.

The sport's European governing body is already facing calls to banish all fans from the match as a punishment for the behaviour of England supporters before and during the match in Sunderland.

English football officials had hoped to persuade them to scrap the plan.

But Beckham's dramatic intervention may now sway the balance in favour of a ban.

The Football Association has been charged by UEFA over racist abuse by England fans and pitch invasions, and a ruling is due on May 1.

UEFA has already forced Slovakia to play a home game against Liechtenstein in an empty stadium after Slovakia fans hurled racist abuse at England players in a Euro 2004 qualifier in Bratislava last October.

Beckham told Time magazine: "If we had to play a qualifying game behind closed doors that would be sad for football, sad for England - and sad for the proper England fans who have to suffer because of the small minority of fans that are doing this. It shouldn't happen, but it might just have to happen to stop this.

"I can't imagine a game where there's no crowd. It would be like a pre-season friendly, a practice match.

"It's a shame for the fans and young kids who are coming to watch players they admire.

"But if it's going to put an end to the trouble, then we should consider it."

Beckham added: "It's disappointing when you see some of the trouble that goes on around football matches.

"There was a period when most of it had stopped but it seems to be creeping back into the game."

Business leaders were dismayed at Beckham's comments.

June's international between England and Slovakia would be the first time the national side has played on Teesside since 1937. But with ticket sales already suspended, many now fear that fans will be locked out.

Neil Etherington, chief executive of Tees Valley Development Company, said: "Having it behind closed doors would be deeply disappointing. I have to wonder if David Beckham would say the same thing if it had been scheduled for Old Trafford.

"Middlesbrough has an exemplary track record in policing big matches, and it would be more than a touch unfortunate if events elsewhere would ruin what is a great showcase for Teesside.

"A fans lock-out would represent a significant missed opportunity which, with the impending construction of a new Wembley, might not come around again."

Insiders at the FA feel UEFA would be heavy handed in slapping a supporter ban on the Riverside clash because the abuse at the Turkey game only came from a minority of about 400 fans.

Rob Nichols, editor of the Boro fanzine Fly Me To The Moon, said: "It's a great honour for Middlesbrough to be given this opportunity and it would be a terrible shame if it was snatched away from us because of a few idiots."

Middlesbrough FC declined to comment.