An English football fan stabbed to death in Amsterdam after travelling to watch Middlesbrough play a Uefa Cup match was named today by police.

Brendan O'Connor, a 36-year-old married man who lived in the Teesside area before moving to Camden Town in north London, had travelled to Holland in the hope of finding a ticket for Middlesbrough's clash with AZ Alkmaar last Thursday night.

Mr O'Connor and friend Howard Boville, 38, from Stockton, were unable to get tickets for the match and spent their time in Amsterdam where Mr O'Connor was stabbed following an incident in a city centre pub.

Mr Boville suffered two stab wounds and is in hospital in Amsterdam.

Cleveland Police confirmed today that a 42-year-old Dutch national had been arrested and is in custody being questioned by Dutch police.