England fans wait to be expelled

Hundreds of fans were arrested in Charleroi

About 450 football fans, mostly English, are in custody in the Belgian town of Charleroi after England's victory over Germany in Euro 2000.

The majority are being held in "preventative detention" after being rounded up before and during the match.

Foreign nationals among those arrested are expected to be expelled on Sunday morning as they can only be held for 12 hours.

There were also arrests in the Belgian capital, Brussels, early on Sunday when England fans clashed after the game with local youths.

We want to get rid of them as soon as possible

Major Michel Rompen

Police fired tear gas to disperse the groups. There appeared to be a few injuries.

In Charleroi, police said that 150 fans, some without tickets, were held before the match to prevent trouble.

A further 300 were arrested during the game.

The arrests bring the total number of fans detained by the Belgian authorities since Friday to more than 800.

Major Michel Rompen, spokesman for the local gendarmerie, said: "We want to get rid of them as quickly as possible."

The clash of old rivals England and Germany lived up to expectations of tension both on and off the pitch.

Before the match police used water canons to disperse England and German fans who were throwing chairs and bottles at each other.

Belgian police kept up a heavy presence during the post-match celebrations

"There was some organised violence...though I wouldn't call it a riot," said Major Rompen.

During half-time about 20 fans were arrested after going on the rampage in the town centre and smashing shop windows.

But after the match, jubilant England fans danced in fountains and set off red flares.

There were no sign of the German supporters although Belgian police took no chances and quickly cleared the streets using horses and water canon vehicles.

Meanwhile, hundreds of supporters arrested during rioting in Brussels before the match were still to be flown home aboard Belgian military aircraft in batches of 40 at a time on Sunday.

The first two planeloads landed at Manchester airport on Saturday.

Several complained that they had not been involved in the trouble but had been arrested anyway.

Happiness at home

Electrical contractor David Lockwood, 24, of Huddersfield, said he would never follow the England team abroad again after the treatment by Belgian police.

"I was drinking in a bar in Brussels Square when the police blocked off the entrances and then took a load of fans from outside the bar," he said.

"We thought it was okay and went and got the drinks in but the police came back and took us.

"I think the police just wanted to clear the streets."

Flare up - but this time it is peaceful

The Department of Social Security said any benefits claimants among the deported fans faced losing their income support and jobseeker's allowance if they have left the country without making the necessary holiday arrangements required by the benefit rules.

The win also triggered celebrations in England.

In central London, about 500 jubilant England fans danced in the fountains of Trafalgar Square waving flags and chanting "England, England" and "Shearer, Shearer."