England supporters' club scrapped

Sectarian chanting may be outlawed

The official England supporters' club is being disbanded as part of a series of measures to crack down on football hooliganism.

The Home Office's Working Group on Football Disorder announced the end of the England Members' Club on Friday.

The club's 30,000 members will now have to reapply to join a new supporters' set-up, and will have to be closely vetted and agree to abide by a new code of conduct.

The code has yet to be drawn up, but is expected to include rules on racist or sectarian chants, and anti-social behaviour.

Scotland's travelling fans are held up as a shining example

Special anti-hooligan spotters could be used to single out those supporters who are breaking the code of conduct and ban people from the new club.

Supporters will also be encouraged to police themselves, ensuring fellow members abide by the rules.

The working group's report makes 55 recommendations to the government and football agencies, touching on racism, stewarding issues and encouraging more support from ethnic minorities and women.

National pride

It also urges the media to promote a more positive image of England's supporters.

It cites the example of Scotland's "Tartan Army" of travelling fans, who have gained a reputation for enthusiastic but peaceful support for their team.

The report says: "The Scottish experience would seem to provide a starting point.

"The Tartan Army concept is based on traditional images of Scottish culture and national pride at being distinct from the English in appearance and behaviour."

Home Office minister Lord Bassam, who chairs the working group, said: "I fully respect the fact that the media have got a job to do.

"But I do think we would like to encourage the sort of coverage that looks at some of the issues behind the trouble rather than just to shock people with some of the antics of people who follow the England club."

The report was welcomed by police and football agencies.

Ron Hogg, of the Association of Chief Police Officers and a specialist in football intelligence, said: "We are delighted at the speed of progress made by the working group and ACPO fully embraces the recommendation contained within the report."