BANGKOK, May 18: Police in Thailand, which is emerging as a possible trouble spot before and during the World Cup finals, said Saturday they were on full alert for English soccer hooligans who may visit the country.

Police Major General Tritot Ronnaritivichai, commander of the Special Branch Police, told Reuters that Thai security authorities were in close contact with British authorities to monitor the movement of violent soccer fans.

He said Thai security agencies could not stop soccer hooligans from entering the country during the World Cup run-up, but security plans had been prepared to deal with them.

“We are keeping a close eye on them,” Tritot said. “There is an invitation on the Internet to get these fans to Thailand, but so far only two of three of them have arrived.”

NCIS senior officer Bryan Drew said information about these hooligans had been given to the Thai police as well as the South Korean and Japanese authorities.—Reuters