MIDLAND England fans heading to the continent for Euro 2012 should brace themselves for trouble, a leading Birmingham psychologist has warned.
Tens of thousands of fans are expected to travel out to the Ukraine and Poland for the tournament, which kicks off in June.
Not one England fan was arrested for violent disorder at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa – and they were voted best fans at the tournament in Germany back in 2006.
But Professor Craig Jackson, head of psychology at Birmingham City University, said supporters could face trouble – regardless of whether they go looking for it or not.
His comments came at a special seminar into football hooliganism at the university, where academics and former hooligans discussed the threat of football-related violence in the run up to the championships, and what lessons can be learned from past disorder.
Professor Jackson said: “The idea is that a lot of Polish fans and Russian fans have already been saying that they will ‘take on the English’.
“There is already this pre-emptive statement that some other fans are looking for trouble, and even if the English fans don’t go looking for trouble, it will find them. Traditionally on the continent policing has always been more heavy-handed, with dog units, batons and water canons.
“Only a few weeks ago the Met Police released its report about the riots, where they said they would consider the use of water cannons. We are only just talking about them, years behind those on the continent using them.”
Prof Jackson added that “proportionate” policing would send a stronger message to would-be trouble makers.
He said: “Short-sleeved bobbies, friendly policing with the crowd is much more effective, otherwise it just ups the ante.”
Last month the Home Office revealed it had slapped travel bans on 2,500 known English hooligans travelling to the Ukraine and Poland.
In addition to handing over their passports, hooligans will also be prevented from leaving the country during an “official control period”, from May 29 to July 1.