Campaign to help innocent fans

Fans with complaints are invited to ring or send e-mails

A helpline has been launched for England fans who think they were wrongly arrested or deported during the Euro 2000 football championships.

The Football Supporters' Association helpline number is 020 8541 3399 and e-mails sent to [e-mail] will also be considered.

Association member Alison Pilling said her group would work with partners in the UK and Belgium to seek possible redress and compensation, "as well as an assurance that no future action will be taken against the innocent".

She said: "As well as a poor Euro 2000 experience, those innocent people who were deported have already had to suffer the trauma of explaining to friends, family, neighbours, and employers why they were returned to the UK under such circumstances".

Ms Pilling's association has welcomed the Home Office suggestion to create a single banning order to apply to convicted hooligans.

Association worries

However, it fears that those arrested could face further injustice by having their passports stamped, potentially being refused entry to any country in the future, being prevented from travelling to international football matches, and being banned for life from the clubs they support.

Ms Pilling said: "They also have to bear the cost of having personal belongings recovered from hotels, camp sites and even car parks across Belgium."