LONDON. Oct 9: Any English soccer fan who stirs up violence during next week's World Cup qualifier In the Netherlands faces a possible ban from attending the finals next year in the United States, the British government said Saturday, reports AP.

About 5.000 English fans are expected to make the trip to Rotterdam for Wednesday s crucial match to decide which of the two teams Is likely to qualify for the finals.

"Anyone who steps out of line not only faces prosecution, bat also runs the risk of missing the finals next year." Home Secretary Michael Howard said. "Officers from our National Criminal Intelligence Unit will be watching and recording — and any evidence of wrongdoing may be passed on to the American authorities who will consider stopping that person from entering the country."

Hundreds of Dutch police and riot squads will be deployed

to keep the peace between fans from the two countries that have the most notorious reputations for soccer violence.

The Dutch authorities intend to take a tough line against hooligans and I fully support that approach." Howard said. This Is such an Important match that all eyes should be focused on^he pitch — not on what is happening elsewhere."

Misbehaving fans could be kept from travelling to the United States next year by the Football Spectators Act of 1989. which says that a person convicted of a soccer-related offence may be subjected to a restriction order.

Howard said he hoped the law could also be applied to include acts of hooliganism at the finals.

"We are already discussing arrangements with the American authorities." Howard said. "Our aim is to create a system where fans convicted of a football-related offence in the States can also be dealt with in courts over here. They can then be stopped from causing trouble at future important matches played abroad."