Two men who tried to travel ahead of Wednesday night's game have been banned from any matches for three years.

The men, aged 32 and 37 from the Bradford area, were detained at Newcastle Airport on Tuesday night.

They appeared at Newcastle Magistrates Court, where banning orders were placed on both of them for three years.

A Northumbria Police spokesman said it followed a joint operation with West Yorkshire Police and was part of a five-day operation ahead of the game.

Deterrent message

A group of Bradford City supporters were stopped at Newcastle Airport and the two men detained under section 21 of the Football Spectators Act 1989.

Detective Sergeant Paul Evans, from the football intelligence unit, said: "This is not just about Euro 2004, we are looking towards the 2006 World Cup in Germany and all qualifying games.

"This message should be a deterrent to those intending to travel and cause trouble."

Meanwhile, one supporter from Lancashire, is expected to be deported from Gothenburg on Wednesday having flown into the city from Glasgow.

Another, from Northallerton, in North Yorkshire, is in custody in Sweden for an alleged drugs offence.

Operation praised

The man, in his 20s, was arrested on Tuesday night on suspicion of having drugs in his body.

A Home Office spokeswoman said there were around 3,000 fans in Gothenburg for the game and praised the police operation.

Soccer chiefs are hoping for good behaviour from the supporters as the threat by Uefa, European football's governing body, to expel England from Euro 2004 if past hooliganism is repeated, continues to hang over the team.

More than 2,000 fans are subject to banning orders which keep them at home when matches are taking place, and police hope that figure will rise to 2,500 by the time Euro 2004 starts in Portugal in June.