Feyenoord slap Uefa Cup ban on France-bound fans

Feyenoord will not allow fans to travel to France for the Uefa Cup clash against Nancy later this month due to the threat of violent reprisals, according to the Dutch club's website on Wednesday.

Feyenoord's management slapped the ban on fans going to the Group H match due to the risk of clashes between the two sets of supporters, following similar outbursts in France during a Uefa Cup game two years ago.

“Feyenoord will not sell tickets to travelling supporters and we ask our fans not to make the trip on their own,” said a statement on www.feyenoord.nl.

“We do not just want those who behaved badly in 2006 to make the trip to France. The slightest incident could have serious consequences for the club.”

The statement added: “We cannot take the risk. The future of the club is more important than one game.”

The 2006 match had to be stopped for 30 minutes after missile-throwing fans spilled onto the pitch during Nancy's November 3-0 win.

Around 600 Feyenoord supporters had earlier ransacked Nancy's town centre, smashing windows and looting shops.

The fans' behaviour earned the Dutch club a hefty fine and UEFA later threw them out of the competition, while three fans received short prison sentences.