Police nab 12 football hooligans trying to enter S-Africa for FIFA

London, June 1 (ANI): British security forces have intercepted and detained a dozen hooligans who were trying to enter South Africa via Dubai to avoid being identified.

South Africa is going to great lengths to ensure that rowdy English fans are kept at bay during the FIFA World Cup (WC), and the UK Home Office is pitching in to these efforts by ordering the surrender of the passports of 3,111 known hoodlums.

"About a month or so ago some of them were trying to come to South Africa via Dubai and both the South African and UK forces were able to nab them. I think it was about a dozen," the Daily Star quoted South African police minister Nathi Mtethwa, as saying.

He warned potential troublemakers that they would enter South Africa at their own peril.

"If any do find their way to South Africa I'm happy to bring them bad news - we will take no nonsense," said Mtethwa

British thugs who surrender their passports will be required to sign in at a police station on every day that England play a World Cup match and face six months in jail if caught breaching the order.

And immigration staff at all South African ports of entry have been specially trained to spot known suspects, the report said. (ANI)