THERE was indignation among many Welsh soccer fans that they had to report to police under banning orders simply because England were playing in Euro 2004, a solicitor has claimed.

Alun Williams told Flintshire Magistrates at Mold that his client, and many others, had never had any intention of going to see England play in Portugal.

'They did not want to go, would never want to go and would not go and see England play.

They are Wales supporters,' he explained.

John Neil Williams, 40, of Plas Alyn, Lower Road, Summerhill, admitted three charges of failing to report to police at Wrexham on three dates last month when England were playing.

Williams told magistrates he thought it only applied to Wales matches.

Prosecutor Huw Evans said Williams had made three court appearances previously for breaching the three-year International Football Spectators Banning Order which had been imposed by Wrexham magistrates in 2003 following a football-related public order offence.

A notice had been sent out in advance of Euro 2004 ordering him to report to the police on three dates during the tournament in Portugal but he had failed to do so.

Alun Williams said his client did not have his passport and could not have gone to Portugal even if he had wanted to. But he had no intention of going to see England play in Portugal because he was a Wales supporter.

'My client has never been to watch England, he would never go and watch England and felt that he should not have to report.'

Three previous breaches of the order related to Wales international matches - not that he had attended but that he had failed to report to police.

And an earlier breach was committed on Boxing Day when he went to pick up his girlfriend in town and found himself inside the exclusion zone for The Racecourse when he had not realised that a Wrexham v Sheffield Wednesday match had started, because it had an unusual kick-off time.

Williams also admitted making off without payment for petrol at Rhostyllen Service Station, without paying for a meal at the Little Chef in Northop Hall, and going equipped to steal with an altered number plate on his car.

Mr Evans explained that black sticky tape had been used to change Williams's P registered Mondeo into an R registered vehicle.

Sentence was adjourned for reports and Williams was bailed in the meantime.