ENGLAND will be expelled from Euro 2004 if hooligans ruin the Riverside Stadium's first international next month.

UEFA told the Football Association last night that they would throw England out of the tournament if thugs cause any more trouble after racist chanting and pitch invasions marred the game with Turkey.

England were threatened with being removed from Euro 2000 after rampaging fans in Belgium marred the tournament and a similar threat hangs over them now.

UEFA communications director Mike Lee said: "The threat of expulsion is clearly something available to UEFA, particularly in respect of a final tournament.

"That warning was categoric and that's still on the table for Euro 2004. It is supposed to be a festival of football and we don't want to see it spoiled. That's a message the FA would support."

By deciding not to force the June 11 qualifier with Slovakia to be played behind closed doors, UEFA incurred the wrath of Turkey - England's principal Group 7 rivals.

A Turkish FA source said: "We are surprised by and unhappy about this decision. Everyone here expected the game to be played at an empty stadium."

The FA were fined £68,000 - the biggest fine ever imposed by UEFA, European football's governing body, after a racist incident.

But the decision smacked of double standards after Slovakia had to play their qualifier with Liechtenstein behind closed doors last month after England players were racially abused in Bratislava last October.

Indeed, Slovakia expressed their concerns to UEFA about the safety of their players the day after the England v Turkey game at the Stadium of Light.

But Lee said: "This sends a very clear signal and warning to the English FA about the issues of safety and security and the racist behaviour of English fans.

"They should regard this as a final warning and I think the FA have seen that and recognise that.

"The track record of travelling fans particularly is deplorable and the FA are taking further steps to show they are taking the matter seriously.

"We trust those steps are going to be effective. If not, disciplinary proceedings will be back on the agenda."

The FA, who are heavily in debt, stood to lose £2m if the stands at the 34,000-capacity Riverside had been almost deserted in six weeks' time.

FA marketing and communications director Paul Barber was adamant that a whole raft of measures designed to crack down on racism, pitch invasions and other security issues in relation to travelling fans would be introduced.

Barber, who confirmed the FA would not appeal, said: "By imposing a record fine and severely warning us of future conduct of English supporters, the message is clear and we respect this.

"I do not see this as an escape - it's the highest racism-related fine UEFA have issued.

"Hopefully, from now on people will realise that racism will not be tolerated. The mindless minority have to be stopped.

"UEFA can be assured we intend to maintain and step up our work in these important areas."

Barber said the FA would join with the police in a name and shame campaign of those supporters who invaded the pitch at Sunderland using photos of the fans involved.

He added: "The FA accepts that there's too large a minority of fans involved in these problems. It appears to have grown in number and must now be stopped in its tracks.

"It is no longer acceptable for anyone to make excuses for this group of people."

The 10-man UEFA disciplinary body ruled on three charges, the main one concerning racist chants outside and inside the Stadium of Light.

Apart from the pitch invasions following each England goal, there were also deafening booing during the visitors' national anthem.

The English and Turkish FAs were both cleared of a misconduct charge concerning alleged trouble in the tunnel after the match due to lack of evidence.

* Sir Alex Ferguson was yesterday fined £4,500 after apologising for the suggestion that the Champions League quarter-finals draw may have been fixed.