Security operation to seize 880 England fan passports before Germany trip

Police will confiscate the passports of 880 England fans before the Nations League tie against Germany in Munich on 7 June as part of an extensive security operation. The fixture comes the day after the D-day anniversary and the authorities will take no chances with regard to potential trouble.

The Football Association has been given 3,466 seats at the Allianz Arena, having fielded interest from more than 6,000 fans, and is hopeful that, with the game on a Tuesday night, not too many will travel without tickets.

It knows that the Allianz, where the sale of alcohol will be prohibited, has an excellent infrastructure and plenty of experience in hosting high-profile matches. The concern will be more about the behaviour of supporters in the city centre, particularly Marienplatz, the main square.

There are 1,122 England supporters with banning orders, although the number is expected to rise in light of recent flashpoints in the domestic game. In the mid-2000s, there were more than 3,000 such orders. Since 2014 the FA has made 70,000 checks on people who have applied to become members of the England Supporters Travel Club, demonstrating a commitment to weeding out troublemakers.

The police will send a delegation to Munich on the Sunday before the game – it will return on the Wednesday – featuring six spotters and three or four intelligence officers. They will partner with the local force. In addition, the FA will provide 12 Wembley stewards, who will be visible at the entrances to the Allianz and the ticket collection point. There will also be safety and security advisers from the FA, working at the stadium and city centre.

The FA was given a one-game stadium ban for the crowd problems that disfigured the Euro 2020 final against Italy at Wembley, which will be served when the same opposition visit Molineux for the Nations League match on 11 June. The punishment of a second home fixture without fans was suspended but will be triggered if there is further bad behaviour.