POLICE yesterday launched a major crackdown on football hooligans on the eve of England's friendly match with France.

More than 20 people were banned by courts from going to the fixture in Paris under a new law rushed through after the violence at Euro 2000.

Two Brighton fans were banned from all football matches for two years, after a man from Swindon was given a similar ban on Wednesday.

Twenty-one more supporters, eight of them from the North-East, were told to surrender their passports as a condition of bail when their cases were adjourned.

Among those was Michael Hawdon, 28, of Mildred Street, Darlington, who was also banned by Sedgefield magistrates from attending domestic games until he returns to court on Thursday.

Another four men had their passports confiscated by magistrates in Sunderland and three more in Newcastle.

One man, from Oxford, was held at Waterloo after booking on the Eurostar train.

Intelligence officers were at ports and railway stations to try to ensure troublemakers could not get to Paris.

The Football (Disorder) Act was rushed through Parliament after the trouble in Belgium at Euro 2000.

Police can stop anyone they think is likely to cause trouble and take away their passports in the five days leading up to an international game.

In addition, 117 fans are already subject to banning orders of varying types issued under previous legislation. They remain in place.

Chief Inspector Peter Mills, of Sussex Police, who was pleased to see the two Brighton fans banned from matches, said: "These orders are powerful deterrents and are a useful means to stop football violence."

Security was tight at Waterloo, with fans subject to checks of their bags and documents after they went through the check-in to the Eurostar.

Police are not thought to be overly concerned about the prospect of violence at the match.

England's ticket allocation is 6,500 and tickets will be on sale at the ground tonight