UK police collect passports from fans banned from World Cup

British police says 98 per cent of the fans banned from travelling to the World Cup because of hooliganism fears have surrendered their passports. (Themba Hadebe/AP)

VOLGOGRAD, Russia — British police says 98 per cent of the fans banned from travelling to the World Cup because of hooliganism fears have surrendered their passports.

Football banning orders are in place on 1,312 fans in Britain, preventing them from travelling abroad for matches over fears they will cause trouble.

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Mark Roberts, head of British football policing, says only two per cent of fans on banning orders are yet to give up their passports ahead of England’s opening game against Tunisia on Monday.

Speaking in Volgograd, Roberts says a maximum of 2,500 England fans are expected to attend the game in the southern Russian city.

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