POLICE will be stationed at Manchester Airport over the next nine days to prevent football hooligans travelling to England's forthcoming World Cup qualifying matches.

Officers today launched Operation Warsaw ahead of England's two crucial away games in Austria and Poland.

Plain clothes football intelligence officers, along with uniformed police, will be on guard at the airport to stop known troublemakers leaving the country

The national team play against Austria on Saturday before travelling to Poland on Wednesday

Supt Paul Mciver, of Greater Manchester Police said: "There is a clear message to those people travelling for the wrong reasons. Don't bother."

"We will be vigorously enforcing banning orders and working to stop those travelling to engage in violence or disorder.

"Any breaches of theses conditions will be treated seriously."

There are a number of routes that fans can use to fly to attend matches and officers will be monitoring all options available to travelling fans.

"The operation aims to continue this good work and stop hooligans ruining the reputation of genuine England fans."

During Euro 2004, Greater Manchester Police successfully carried out a similar operation with officers speaking to over 1500 fans.

The vast majority were genuine supporters who were cooperative and understanding.

But officers stopped a number of known hooligans from travelling and several new banning orders were applied for.

Some supporters without banning orders were prevented from travelling during the 18 days that the officers were stationed at the airport.

Three new banning orders applications were made, including one that will run for the next three years.

It means that the offender cannot attend football matches in England or Wales or travel abroad to watch the national team play.

Two other fans were stopped as they had outstanding warrants still against them.

And a further 10 people were arrested for failing to abide with conditions of existing banning orders.