Twenty-five Oxford United fans have been banned from travelling to Germany for the World Cup after causing trouble at domestic matches.

The hooligans are all subject to football banning orders and will be required to report to police stations and surrender their passports 10 days before the World Cup opening match on June 9.

They will also have to report to police on every England match day during the tournament.

Thames Valley Police have issued 60 banning orders across the region almost half in Oxfordshire and police are taking court action against a further seven hooligans from the county to prevent them travelling.

Dc Huw James, Oxford's football intelligence officer who will working in Germany for as long as England stay in the tournament, said: "We robustly and proactively deal with anyone who looks for violence on match days.

"The banning orders are a consequence of fans who have caused trouble. They will not be able to travel to the World Cup."

With the tournament now less than six weeks away, Dc James said fans intending to travel to Germany should think seriously about their behaviour if they did not want to jeopardise their plans.

He said his unit would not hesitate to punish anyone involved in trouble.

He said: "We have not had, and will not have, any qualms at all about arresting people if they misbehave before June 10. It won't matter if they have flights, tickets and accommodation booked.

"If they engage in football violence they could face a domestic and international match ban."

Dc James said about 150,000 English fans were expected to travel to Germany in early June.

He said: "We realise emotions will be running high and the majority of fans will just be enjoying the beer, the sunshine and the football, but we are aware there could be troublemakers among the genuine supporters."

A total of 3,286 banning orders have been imposed across England and Wales.

The figures were released yesterday (Fri) in the House of Commons when Home Secretary Charles Clarke said they would be rigorously enforced.

He said: "The German slogan for the World Cup is 'Time to Make Friends' and that's how we want to see this tournament going.

"We want it to be a celebration of football, an expression of the modern relationship between Germany and Britain."

He added that English and German police and authorities had the leading relationship in Europe in combating hooliganism.

Dc James said: "I'll be there as the eyes and ears of the German authorities, sharing my experience with them and giving them advice. I hope I don't have to use the powers I will be given."

At the time of going to press, Thames Valley Police were unable to provide the Oxford Mail with a list of the 25 Oxford United fans banned from the World Cup.