Over 1,600 English and Welsh football fans who have received stadium bans will be prohibited from travelling to Germany for Euro 2024, the UK government announced on Tuesday.
The 17th edition of the European championship will run from 14 June to 14 July. Aware of the reputational damage that such nationals can bring when visiting other countries, UK authorities have previously targeted “violent and disruptive fans” with travel bans, for instance ahead of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
“From Thursday 4 June, over 1,600 individuals in England and Wales subject to a football stadium ban will have to surrender their British passports to the police until the end of the tournament,” the Home Office disclosed on Tuesday.
Those who fail to obey this rule or attempt to “travel to Germany or to neighbouring countries” during the Euro (14 June-14 July) could face a “heavy fine” and up to six months imprisonment, the Home Office stated.
