June 27, 2006	Tuesday	Jumadi-ul-Awwal 30, 1427

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BERLIN, June 26: Some 130 England fans who were detained after violence flared on Saturday in Stuttgart before England's World Cup match with Ecuador will be barred from the cities of Gelsenkirchen and Munich, police said on Monday.

The western industrial city of Gelsenkirchen hosts England's quarter-final against Portugal on Saturday while the Bavarian capital Munich stages the July 5 semi-final in which England would play if they advance to the last four.

“To date the mood surrounding the World Cup has been happy and peaceful in Munich and that is how things should stay,” Munich city administrator Wilfried Blume-Beyerle said.

Munich police had information that some violent England supporters planned to come to Munich to cause similar trouble to that which flared in Stuttgart, he added.

Over 60,000 England fans were in the southern city for the second-round game with Ecuador, which England won 1-0, and fighting broke out on Saturday between several hundred England and German supporters, prompting police to intervene.

Rioters threw bottles, tables and chairs in a square in the city centre. Fourteen Germans and five people from other nations were also held.

The English have a long history of soccer-related violence but there had been little trouble in Germany, with only a small number of arrests for mostly drunken behaviour or people trying to get into a stadium without a ticket.

Germany's police union said on Monday the first two weeks of the month-long tournament had been largely trouble free and any problems had been swiftly dealt with.

“Despite all the prophecies of doom, our colleagues around the country have confirmed that the biggest security challenge for decades is being met extremely well,” union chief Wolfgang Speck said.

“In both the stadiums and the public viewing areas police have been able to ensure security with action that is restrained but firm when necessary,” he added.—Reuters