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Last Updated: Wednesday, 30 April, 2003, 23:33 GMT 00:33 UK
FA to ban pitch invaders
Fans invade the pich at England match against Turkey
The FA is facing a Uefa disciplinary action

Fans who invaded the pitch during England's Euro 2004 qualifier against Turkey at the Stadium of Light face being "named and shamed".

The Football Association have pictures of around 80 supporters from CCTV and video footage and they plan to publicise the photos with an appeal for help in identifying the culprits.

Those found guilty will also be banned for life from England internationals and FA Cup matches.

England face disciplinary action by Uefa on Thursday over the pitch invasions and racist abuse during the game.

It is possible the FA could be fined or even forced to stage England's game against Slovakia in June behind closed doors.

FA officials say they are counting on a series of measures to tackle the hooligans, ranging from action by the courts, stadium bans and, more ambitiously, a change in the demographic profile of their fans.

The FA's head of marketing and communications Paul Barber said: "The minority of people that cause us problems has now become too large a minority.

"We are going to work with the police and call on the courts to impose punishments as severe as they can be for any of those people convicted of football-related offences.

"We will certainly impose our own life bans on anyone that comes on to the pitch during an England game. They will not get tickets for England games in the future and I mean that for life."

We will look over the next several weeks at how we can change the demographics of the people who follow England
FA director Paul Barber

Barber also said the FA is anxious to tackle the issue of racism at football grounds.

Stadium billboards, the FA website, match programmes and England players will all be used to get across an anti-racist message at the friendly on 3 June against Serbia and Montenegro at Leicester.

"We will look over the next several weeks at how we can change the demographics of the people who follow England, particularly abroad," Barber added.

"We all know there is a very large percentage of young white males that follow us abroad.

"For the most part, they are peace-loving football supporters who want to enjoy the game but there is a minority - and it is too many - that seem to want to cause problems."

FA officials have already said they do not wish to take up England's ticket allocation for their final Euro 2004 qualifier in Turkey next October.






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SEE ALSO
England await Uefa ruling
30 Apr 03  |  England
Uefa to probe crowd fracas
03 Apr 03  |  England
FA fury at Beckham
20 Apr 03  |  England

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