Red card for Wolves fan handed five-year ban after up to 20 instances of disorder at football matches

Three other Midlands supporters have also received the red card after causing trouble at matches, including an incident at a Walsall FC contest in January.

All will miss the upcoming Euro 2016 as well as the next World Cup.

Benjamin Richardson, of Pebble Close in Stourbridge, was in as many as 20 football related disorders between 2008 and 2015. Most of them occurred at Wolverhampton Wanderers matches, West Midlands Police confirmed.

The 27-year-old was also forced to leave an encounter between Poland and England in Warsaw in 2012 after trying to force his way into the ground.

Richardson received a five-year Football Banning Order at Dudley Magistrates Court on March 4. The ruling means he is not allowed within five miles of where Wolves and England matches are being played.

Three Coventry City fans have also received FBOs this month for disorder at Sky Blues matches as well as being charged with public order offences at a match with the Saddlers in January.

George Stringer, aged 21 of Drake Street, Foleshill, Corey Gamble, 19 of Albany Road, Earlsdon and 18-year-old John Bridge of no fixed address, were handed three-year bans at Coventry Magistrates Court on March 3.

Chief Inspector Nick Rowe, from West Midlands Police, said: "Banning orders are there for a reason; and we will be enforcing them to their fullest.

"We work closely with security staff and club officials in the region to identify and monitor those who 'risk supporters' - securing FBOs when appropriate to ensure supporters can enjoy following their team in a safe environment.

"The orders are not only given to people convicted of violence or disorder at matches but anyone who commits a football-related offence such as fighting or damaging property in a pub whilst watching a match.

"Everyone is looking forward to the extension of the season with a festival of football at Euro 2016 - but we will not tolerate troublemakers ignoring their bans and will be retaining their passports until the tournament ends."

There are more than 200 FBOs in place across the West Midlands with anyone who fails to hand over their passports to police before Euro 2016 facing a jail term.

High-visibility and plain clothes officers will be at Birmingham Airport on the lookout for known troublemakers while police 'spotters' will also be at Euro 2016 on the lookout for those banned from travelling or those we think may cause issues.

A police operation is being co-ordinated for the international friendly with Germany on Saturday 27 March with banned fans being notified to give up their passports.