BOLTON'S Euro MP Gary Titley gave his full backing to efforts to crack down on hooliganism during a recent debate at the European Parliament.

Mr Titley believes co-operation between police forces across the continent is the key to dealing with the problem but stressed the need for fairness.

He said: "A number of my constituents who are Manchester United fans went to Turkey a couple of years ago for a game and were all rounded up and expelled from Turkey without being accused of any offence. Although they had not been accused of any offence they ended up on police files and subsequently had great difficulty travelling. "These were honest law abiding citizens so we must beware of the tendency for all people to be tarred with the same brush. People's civil liberties are at risk unless police are more discerning in their treatment of football hooligans."

Mr Titley also condemned racism in football and praised Bolton Wanderers for the way they have tackled the problem.

He said: "My own home town team of Bolton Wanderers has been very active in driving out racism from Bolton in conjunction with the local police. They are to be congratulated on this."

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