It's 16 years since John Barnes danced through the entire Brazil defence only for his euphoria at scoring one of England's finest goals in a 2-0 victory to be swiftly trampled on by a stampede of size-10 Doc Martens.

On the onward journey from Rio de Janeiro a number of England followers travelling on the team plane abused the left winger. Instead of being treated like a hero, Barnes was dismayed to find himself being looked upon as a leper. Mark Hateley had also scored for England that night and the "fans" let it be known that, in their opinion, the score was only 1-0. The "nigger's effort" did not count.

Barnes was clever. When the bananas were being thrown and the monkey chants started polluting the air, he refused to let his emotions show. One day he turned up for a fancy-dress party organised by Liverpool's players in a Ku Klux Klan outfit. The giant banana costume, he explained, had already been hired.

Gradually the racists slunk away, their numbers dwindling and the instigators tired of being ostracised by decent folk.

Now it seems they are coming back. According to evidence from the Home Office and the Football Supporters' Association, football violence and racism are back on the increase and spreading like a contagious disease. A new generation of xenophobic yobs is coming through the ranks and, in the most extreme cases, England's players have once again been targets for their vitriol.

The problem is becoming so bad that the government is proposing a radical shake-up of the England Members Club after a post-Euro 2000 study revealed it to be infested with young white hooligans "determined to display offensive and distorted perceptions of patriotism".

Strong words, but as those who have followed England on a regular basis can testify, no exaggeration.

Take the game against France in Paris last September. "It may as well have been a Nuremberg rally," says Paul Thomas, a club member and the Football Supporters' Association international co-ordinator. "There were people sieg heil-ing during God Save the Queen and racist abuse throughout the match, not just directed at the French players but also the England players. I can certainly remember Sol Campbell taking some terrible abuse and one or two others as well.

"Songs like No Surrender to the IRA are on the increase, not just with the national team but at grounds around the country. There's no disguising the fact there are some vile and unpleasant people in the members' club."

After the deaths of two Leeds United supporters in Istanbul eight months ago, it is clear that the English hooligan element sees Turkey as the new enemy. But what is perhaps most disturbing is the number of teenagers who have become involved.

"We have just had France 98 and Euro 2000 which have both been quite easy for young people to get to," says Thomas. "You don't see the BNP (British National Party) or Combat 18 openly organising racism but there is definitely a new generation coming through, as the game in the Stade de France showed."

John Tongue, a Bury supporter and club member since its formation, recalls England's World Cup qualifier against Italy at Wembley in 1997. "I went with three friends and afterwards two of them said they would never watch England again," he says.

"One of the distasteful things about watching England is that is there is always a percentage of racists. What surprised me most that night was that we were sitting in a section designated for the members' section. Judging by some of the remarks we heard, it did not seem to make any difference whatsoever."

According to Mark Perryman, a Tottenham Hotspur fan who has followed England abroad since 1996, it is "too simplistic" to say the main problem is racism. "The problem is xenophobia rather than racism. There are people who follow England and refuse to accept anything foreign. But that's not just a football problem. You will see that on the Costa del Sol with English tourists every summer."

Ministers are proposing stricter implementation of laws against racist and sexist remarks at matches and there are plans to encourage a more family-oriented environment by employing accredited stewards to travel with the members' organisation.

The report was set up in the wake of violence involving English supporters at Euro 2000 and it suggests that a revamped club would require the existing 27,000 members to be vetted again. Anyone with a criminal conviction would be barred.

Thomas says the jury remains out on the government's proposals. "A revamp is necessary but it will need a package of measures. There are all sort of things to be weighed up. It'll be a long hard struggle."

Until then England's away matches will continue to be engulfed by a dread of what may or may not happen off the pitch.