Uefa sounds England warning

Turkey fans have traditionally given English clubs a hostile welcome

England could be banned from the 2006 World Cup as well as Euro 2004 if hooligans cause trouble in Turkey in October.

That is the warning from Uefa president Lennart Johansson, who said his organisation was "very worried" about the European Championships qualifier in Istanbul on 11 October.

England's Football Association had already been warned that they faced a ban from Euro 2004 if there was a repeat of the scenes which followed the game against Turkey at The Stadium of Light in April.

But Johansson has warned any ban could extend beyond next year's tournament in Portugal.

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In an interview with the Daily Telegraph newspaper, Johansson said: "We hope nothing happens, but if there are problems then the matter will be discussed at the organising committee of the World Cup and of course for 2004.

"Participation in all the international competitions will have to be reconsidered. Let's hope it doesn't come to that."

Johansson will be in Turkey for the potentially crucial Group Seven qualifier and admitted Uefa fears further trouble.

"We are very worried about the match. We can't ignore certain facts. We have a problem with certain English fans when they travel abroad.

"There is a hooligan element and we have a hooligan element in Turkey."

Uefa president Lennart Johansson

But Johansson stressed that the Football Association's efforts to avoid trouble had not gone unnoticed.

England are not taking any tickets for the game and Johansson said: "Both sides are working very hard.

Senes Erzik, the Turkish representative on the Fifa executive, added: "I don't like the idea the English FA are not taking up tickets for the match.

"It's a pity. I dislike the closed door solution. But I suppose there was no alternative."

Ezrik added that it was impossible to stop individual England fans travelling to the game without official tickets.

He added: "How can you stop them as long as they have a valid identity?

"I don't want to speculate on what these individuals might do at the match. But in case of trouble we will all be in trouble."