IT may have been a football season to forget for Bolton Wanderers.

But today the club won the plaudits of local Euro MP Gary Titley for its fight against racism.

Addressing the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Mr Titley congratulated the Wanderers for their efforts in trying to stamp out racial abuse on the terraces.

He said the club had worked closely with police to identify the culprits and come down hard on them. Mr Titley was speaking during a debate on football hooliganism and ways of preventing trouble during Euro '96.

He strongly endorsed calls for greater co-operation between police forces across Europe.

But he warned that adequate safeguards must be in place to protect the innocent.

"I know through bitter experience that it is only too easy for unsuspecting fans to get caught up in soccer violence and then find their names on an international police blacklist," he said. "This nightmare happened to a number of innocent Manchester United fans after the European Championship in Barcelona.

"Eighteen months later, I am still fighting to try to help these constituents get their names cleared."

Mr Titley issued a warning to the media - particularly the tabloid newspapers - to "face up to their own responsibilities" for fans' behaviour during Euro '96.

"Some of their headlines recently have been designed to whip up an anti-European hysteria over non-footballing matters," he said.

"That is hardly the best way to welcome the 250,000 continental fans expected to travel here for the tournament."

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