A FOOTBALL fan could still travel to the World Cup finals in Germany after contesting a football banning order.

Ian Walker has contested an application by Cleveland Police to ban him from attending games.

He is due to appear at Teesside Crown Court on May 30 for a pre-trial hearing.

Mr Walker, 43, of Aintree Road, Redcar, east Cleveland, disputed that he was involved in trouble during Middlesbrough's UEFA Cup quarter- final in the St Jakob Park stadium in Basle, Switzerland, on March 30.

But his teenage son has been banned from every football ground in the country for two years after admitting being involved in violence at the game.

Mr Walker and his son, Ashley, 19, were taken off a ferry in Hull as they attempted to make their way to Eindhoven to watch the club play in the UEFA Cup final.

The teenager had his passport confiscated when he appeared before Teesside Magistrates' Court last Tuesday to ensure he was unable to attend the game.

However, his father was allowed to keep his passport.

At Teesside Crown Court yesterday the teenager did not contest the application from Cleveland Police and accepted he had thrown punches which were filmed by a member of the public on a camera phone.

The picture later appeared on a Boro fans' website.

Detective Sergeant Ian Fawcett, of the police football intelligence unit, told the court Ashley Walker played a central part in the disorder.

He said: "He is clearly seen to throw a punch, get himself in the Basle end and really from the evidence he is one of the leaders involved in the disorder."

In mitigation, Helen Larkin said Walker only became involved in the trouble after went to help his father who had been covered in drinks thrown by Basle supporters.

She said: "He has been a season ticket holder for 11 years and because of his behaviour in Basle he couldn't attend the biggest night in the club's history - the final in Eindhoven."