EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP: England face expulsion from the European Championship if their fans reproduce the violence and racism that marred last month's game with Turkey and which yesterday landed the English Football Association with a £68,000 fine.

They will not have to play next month's game against Slovakia behind closed doors, but, in levying its biggest fine for a racism-related offence, UEFA has put the FA on notice that a repeat of the chanting and pitch invasions that blighted the match at the Stadium of Light could have serious consequences.

Though there may be relief in Soho Square, London that the FA has avoided the damage to its image and the loss of up to £2 million in revenue - the amount they would have forfeited had the Riverside Stadium been empty on June 11th - there was little comfort in yesterday's judgment.

UEFA welcomed a raft of measures announced earlier this week by the English FA, including life bans for pitch invaders and pledges to change the demographic profile of England's fans, but it can be in no doubt that the behaviour of hooligans again threatens the national side's chances of success.

Mike Lee, UEFA's director of communications, said: "This sends a very clear signal and warning to the English FA about the issues of safety and security and the racist behaviour of English fans.

"The threat of expulsion is clearly something available to UEFA, particularly in respect of a final tournament. The fans need to make sure that they don't put the future of the English national side in jeopardy.

"They should regard this as a final warning and I think the FA have seen and recognised that. The track record of travelling fans particularly is deplorable and they (the English FA) are taking further steps to show they are taking the matter seriously. We trust those steps are going to be effective, but if not disciplinary proceedings will be back on the agenda."

Three years ago England were threatened with expulsion from Euro 2000 after supporters clashed with police and Germany fans in Charleroi, and Lee said UEFA would be prepared to go a step further should England qualify for Portugal 2004 and fans once more go on the rampage.

The nine-man disciplinary committee, many of whom come from countries that have been trashed by England fans in recent years, seriously considered forcing the FA to play Slovakia behind closed doors.

Attention will now turn to England's remaining qualifying fixtures, particularly the away game in Turkey in October.

The Istanbul match, for which the FA will not be accepting its ticket allocation, will provide the sternest test of the FA's attempts to discourage fans from making the journey, and of UEFA's willingness to make good its threats.

The FA has stressed that by not taking tickets it is doing all it can to prevent fans from travelling and therefore cannot be blamed for any trouble that may occur. But yesterday UEFA indicated it takes a different view.

"There has to be some responsibility for England fans travelling abroad on the FA, and there is a lot of work that needs to be done before the Turkey game," Lee said.

Alex Ferguson yesterday escaped with a £4,500 fine for suggesting the Champions League quarter-finals draw may have been fixed, after making a humble apology to UEFA.

Meanwhile, the Manchester United manager submitted a 10-page document to UEFA's control and disciplinary panel apologising for his comments and pointing out he has publicly withdrawn the remarks.

Leeds United are to interview Leicester City's Micky Adams about their vacancy for a manager as they prepare to dispense with the services of the caretaker Peter Reid.

Plans are being made to open negotiations next week with Adams, a defender at Leeds in the 1980s, about a possible return.

The news will come as a kick in the teeth for Reid, who felt confident of landing the job himself after gaining the support of the squad since his arrival in March.

However, in the six games he has been in charge of they have won two and drawn one, with three defeats. Reid was last night at a supporters' meeting in the city.

Leeds officials have been in regular contact with Adams' advisers and plan to offer him the job before the game, with Aston Villa, provided their top-flight status has been secured.

Adams has been at the top of Leeds' list since Terry Venables was sacked in March, and was even offered the job by the former chairman Peter Ridsdale.

He stayed at Leicester, however, as a huge bonus was payable if and when they won promotion.

Guardian Service