Uefa and FA statements in full

Uefa officials have taken a stern line on English fans

European football's governing body, Uefa, on Sunday issued the following warning to the UK Government after last weekend's soccer violence.

"The Uefa Executive Committee has today called on the UK government and the FA in London to take the necessary steps to stop English hooligans from travelling abroad.

"Following the violence in Brussels and Charleroi, the Uefa executive committee stated that these English hooligans are a disgrace to their country and a blight on the national team.

The scenes in the last two days cannot be allowed to continue

Uefa statement

"The action over the last 48 hours have left a scar on the tournament and left us wondering why more was not done to prevent them from travelling.

"The scenes in the last two days cannot be allowed to continue. Euro 2000 is a celebration of European football, not an excuse for a small minority of English fans to cause havoc.

"The UK Government owes it to everyone concerned to take steps, similar to those taken in other parts of the European Union, to stops these so-called fans from travelling abroad.

"We cannot allow more people to spoil international tournaments for genuine fans. Other governments have shown that it can be done and we call on the UK government to take the necessary steps as a matter of urgency.

"Uefa will have to determine whether the presence of the English national team at this tournament may be maintained should there be a repetition of similar incidents."

The English Football Association was not part of Uefa's discussions that led to the warning but it released this statement in response.

"The FA takes today's statement by Uefa very seriously indeed. More than anything else we want to be part of a safe and secure festival of football similar to Euro 96 in England.

"Let us be absolutely clear straightaway, we condemn utterly and without reservation the actions of the thugs and criminals we have seen on our television sets and some of you have seen in person in Charleroi and in Brussels.

"We know the British Government shares in that condemnation; their response to today's statement by Uefa is up to them. But as far as the FA is concerned it is public knowledge that we called for emergency legislation to remove passports from potential troublemakers.

The FA has worked tirelessly to prepare for this tournament

FA statement

"We are bound to point out though that all the evidence available suggested the vast majority of those causing trouble in Belgium this weekend were not previously known to the authorities.

"The FA has worked tirelessly to prepare for this tournament. We have made all our resources available to our opposite numbers in Belgium and in Holland.

"We have restricted the sale of tickets only to the England Members Club, all of whom are subject to official vetting.

"They have played a significant part in creating the excellent atmosphere in the stadia both in Charleroi and in Eindhoven.

"Kevin Keegan has appealed before we came here to Belgium to all supporters to recognise their responsibilities. His job tonight and tomorrow is to prepare the national team for what is an absolutely crucial game for our country.

"But we would repeat his appeal tonight. On behalf on Kevin, on behalf on every player that is here in Spa, in particularly on behalf of English football.

FA concerns

"Clearly, though, we have significant concerns about the way today's events have unfolded. Neither our chairman nor our chief executive nor any other senior employee attended today's Uefa's meeting.

"Our security adviser, Sir Brian Hayes, was invited to make a very brief statement late in the proceedings but we had no other input to the discussion. He was asked no questions and was asked to leave before a media statement was issued just minutes later.

"The issue of how far a football association is responsible for so-called fans well away from any stadium, something Uefa has always rejected in the past, is a matter we will seek to discuss at the urgent meeting we will request with Gerhard Aigner, the Uefa chief executive, tomorrow."