Fans released without charge face World Cup ban in Japan

Date: 28/02/02

By Martin Banks

THOUSANDS of football fans may travel to this summer's World Cup only to be refused entry by the immigration authorities because of tough new Japanese anti-hooligan laws.

That was the stark warning from MEP Glyn Ford, who was in Japan this week to discuss security for the football tournament which starts in June.

The Japanese, who are co-hosting the event with South Korea, have passed legislation barring admittance to the country to anyone who has been deported, convicted - or even cautioned - for a drugs-related offence.

Because of data protection concerns, several EU member states will not be providing information on minor offences or warnings to the Japanese.

But Ford, Socialist member for South-West England, fears some people will arrive in Japan only to find they are refused entry.

'Hundreds of England fans were deported following riots on the streets of Charleroi in Belgium during Euro 2000. Most were never charged and have no idea that Japanese immigration can use this as grounds not to let them in,' he said.

'Without proper information, we will have fans sent home for admitting to, say, a cannabis caution, or because they were rounded up on the streets of Brussels.

'We need to make sure that listed people don't travel. Telling listed fans they cannot go saves everyone time and trouble. The kind of chaos that would ensue when they are refused entry would ruin the atmosphere at the start of the World Cup,' said Ford, president of the all-party sports inter-group in the European Parliament.

Thousands of football fans may travel to the 2002 World Cup only to be refused entry by the immigration authorities because of tough new Japanese anti-hooligan laws.