ANDRIA HALL, CNN ANCHOR: In some parts of the world, the English have a reputation of being gentile and sedate. Well, British soccer fans in Belgium this week are tarnishing that image, taking fan support to violent extremes. CNN's Jennifer Eccleston (ph) looks at the backlash against -- quote -- "hooligans."</s>JENNIFER ECCLESTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is how most English fans celebrated their team's long-awaited victory over Germany. But it is the actions of a few that are causing a stir in Brussels and London. In a 24-hour period, more than 900 football fans, mainly English, were detained by Belgian police. Authorities there are reeling over damage to property and people, and angered with London's failure to take legislative steps to prevent known troublemakers from traveling to the Euro 2000 tournament. Britain's opposition party echoed that criticism.</s>ANN WIDDECOMBE, SHADOW HOME SECRETARY: They've known about Euro 2000 for a couple of years. They should have taken powers much earlier.</s>ECCLESTON: Images of English fans engaged in violent clashes heralded calls from lawmakers and sports officials for stringent laws to tackle hooliganism. Chief among them, the call to ban fans convicted of game related violence at home from travelling to international games. But, underlying the concern over English football hooliganism is Britain's bid to host the 2006 World Cup. The violence in Belgium, not just an embarrassment, but a threat to that bid and with that the possible loss of the revenue an international tournament brings. Jennifer Eccleston, CNN, London.
Britain's Soccer Hooligans Are Brunt of Recent Backlash