Hooligans warned not to travel to England game

Greater Manchester Police is warning football hooligans not to travel to Minsk for the match between Belarus and England on Wednesday (15 October).

Operation Tiber will target known or potential troublemakers travelling from Manchester Airport to commit football violence at the 2010 World Cup qualifying match.

Plain clothed Football Intelligence and uniformed police officers will be stationed at the airport from today (Monday 13 October) until the game is finished.

During this two-day period, Greater Manchester Police will be rigorously enforcing banning orders that restrict the movements of known troublemakers before the match. There are a number of routes fans can fly to attend the match and officers will be monitoring all options available.

Officers will identify and prevent anyone known to have convictions for violence or football related disorder from travelling to Minsk.

The Football Banning Order Authority (UKFBOA) has sent out letters to specific people who are subject to Banning Orders. The recipients must follow certain courses of action, such as reporting to a police station on the day of the match and surrendering their passport. Any breaches of the conditions will be treated seriously.

Detective Chief Inspector Patrick McKelvey, of GMP's Football Intelligence Unit, said: "As with all operations like this, we are sending out an unequivocal message to people intending to travel to commit violence that they must think again.

"Officers will be spotting known troublemakers and providing a high-visibility presence at the airport.

"In past operations, the vast majority of people approached by officers have been genuine fans who were co-operative, but we have been successful in stopping a number of known hooligans from travelling.

"Operation Tiber aims to continue the good work that has already been achieved in previous operations of this kind and prevent troublemakers wrecking the good name of genuine fans."