An English fan was refused entry to South Korea yesterday, the first to be turned away under efforts to prevent hooligans from attending the World Cup, British intelligence officials said.
The 38-year-old was detained after arriving on a flight to Seoul and was expected to be sent back to Britain on the next available flight, the National Criminal Intelligence Service said.
A spokesman said that although the man had no banning order against him, he had been sentenced to four months' jail in 1999 for possessing CS gas.
An NCIS spokesman said although the man had no banning order against him, he had been sentenced to four months' jail in 1999 for possessing CS gas.
"People without banning orders who think they can get in behind the backs of the authorities are finding out that they cannot," he said.
"British law enforcement is totally serious about making every effort to prevent known hooligans ruining the tournament for others.
"It is a lot of money to waste to be refused entry to countries a long way away."
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Soccer: England Soccer fan turned away from South Korea
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