FA clampdown falls at first hurdle

The Football Association admitted today that England fans with criminal records will still be able to buy tickets for their World Cup clash with Germany in Munich on 1 September, despite new measures to stop convicted thugs travelling abroad.

The 27,000 existing members of the disbanded England Members' Club were due to receive application forms this morning inviting them to join the FA's new away travel club, englandfans.

In an effort to tackle hooligans who follow England abroad, new applicants will have to undergo a series of tight security checks before being granted membership. The move follows a Home Office report which criticised the club for shielding a small hard-core of racist thugs in the aftermath of violence at Euro 2000.

Now, any fans with criminal records for football-related offences, including ticket touting, or violent public disorder offences such as affray, aggravated assault and burglary will be barred from joining.

Although those refused membership will have right to appeal, the screening process is even tougher than those used by employers to check new members of staff. But the FAadmit they will not have time to process all the applications before Germany.

FA spokesman Nick Barron said: "We cannot guarantee we will have checked everyone eligible for tickets by the time the Germany qualifier comes around.