The Football Association plan to fight a UEFA charge over the misbehaviour of England fans at the European Championship match against Slovakia in Bratislava.
The disciplinary commission of European football's governing body today charged the FA, who they hold responsible for the improper conduct of England fans at the match on October 12th.
The matter will be dealt with at the next hearing of UEFA's disciplinary panel on November 21st. The Slovakian FA have also been charged over the racist abuse of England's black players by their supporters.
An FA spokesman said: "We can confirm we have received confirmation from UEFA of a charge regarding crowd behaviour at that game and we will be contesting the charge at a hearing on November 21st."
If found guilty, the FA will be fined - an embarrassing situation after they claimed violent clashes between Slovakian and England fans in Bratislava were prompted by the home supporters' racist chanting.
However, the FA believe the charge centres around relatively minor indiscretions and minor incidents of damage by England fans, and the Slovakian FA face a much stiffer penalty for the shocking racist abuse - with the ultimate sanction that they could be forced to play their next Euro 2004 match behind closed doors.
PA