England fans praised

England football fans came in for unexpected praise today from the very people who threatened to kick their team out of Euro 2004 if they continued to misbehave in Portugal.

UEFA's executive committee issued a final warning to England that if there was any more crowd trouble they would be expelled from the tournament.

More than 33 English people were arrested following a second night of rioting in Albufeira two days after the opening defeat by France on 13 June.

But UEFA's communications and public affairs director William Gaillard insisted any trouble was due to drunken behaviour and was not football-related.

He said: "The English fans deserve praise. It is unfair to link bad behaviour due to drink with football."