POLICE will run a special operation at Southampton Airport to prevent known football thugs from trying to make their way to the World Cup this summer.

The city has been identified as having key routes to “hub” airports in Europe where hooligans can then transfer to flights to South Africa in the hope they won’t be detected.

The operations, which will be staffed by football intelligence and football legislation officers from Hampshire, has been requested by national officials in the UK Football Policing Unit who are paying for the service.

Using the Football Spectators Act, they will have powers to stop and arrest anyone suspected of travelling intent on causing trouble.

The legislation has already been used once before in the county and will usually lead to court and the person being subjected to a Football Banning Order.

Southampton has been identified as an airport where so-called “fans” could try to transfer to cities such as Amsterdam, Paris and Frankfurt before taking connecting flights to South Africa.

The operation will also run ahead of England’s match against Japan in Salzburg, which is also a flight route from the city, at the end of this month.