PM.
… we are pleased with the decision the Football Association have made and also of course Liverpool separately and just before that was announced. I think it's the right decision. I think it will be understood and cooperated with on the part of all our people.
Q.
It is a tragedy though isn't that the innocent have to suffer for what comparatively few people have done.
PM.
Yes it is, but this is what happens when these terrible events occur. There were so many dead people and so many injured people as a result of seemingly the action of our citizens that it required very firm decisions and very firm measures and now we shall be meeting the Football Association again as we were intending to later, to consider further measures with regard to football …
Q.
Do you feel that perhaps it was better to withdraw rather than to be kicked out of Europe?
PM.
I think the Football Association came to the right decision and it was in accordance with the very grave situation and the whole of Britain is appalled at what happened and I think they wanted very firm decisions and I think they will applaud the decisions that have been taken.
Q.
Is it possible to outline what kind of legislation you are thinking of introducing?
PM.
The kind of legislation that I would like if possible, and it can only be done with the agreement of the Opposition Parties but I am sure there will be no trouble there, is to apply the laws that have been introduced into Scotland about drink and alcohol in grounds which we can do, I hope, fairly quickly in time for the Football Association in October. But that legislation is known and what we are deciding now is precisely how much of it would apply to the English grounds and then we will have to be in contact with the Opposition [end p1] to see if they would help us to expedite it through. But I feel certain that they would. I think this is a thing where everyone is united. And then of course we will have to consider further measures which we were in any case doing with the Football Association on safety in grounds and they are also considering other measures about all ticket matches, about possible membership cards for the particular home club and other kinds of things which have become much more urgent to consider as a result of what has happened in Brussels.
Q.
Mr. Kinnock has suggested today that unemployment is a major cause of soccer violence. Do you accept that at all?
PM.
This is much, much deeper than that. People who have plenty of money to go abroad and have plenty of drink, I do not think that you can put it down to unemployment. Indeed if I might say so I think it's rather a slur on those who are unemployed to put it down to that.
Q.
Would you say today is a very sad day for this country?
PM.
It has been a very sad week for this country, yes. And for football. It's the two things, but obviously I am deeply concerned about the reputation of this country and so are almost all our citizens. They are. Don't you feel it?
Q.
Prime Minister, have you seen any evidence of National Front involvement in Wednesday's incidents?
PM.
Well I myself have not because I have not been there. I been told that the National Front maybe involved. A certain number of people are saying that they have seen something which looks like the National Front both over there and at matches over here. That is what they have said and obviously that too will have to be investigated. But it doesn't matter what organisation you belong to, it is what you are doing and if you are doing things which are totally and utterly [end p2] wrong then we have to try to get these people charged and brought before the courts. And one is naturally concerned that there don't appear to have been many charges laid in spite of the terrible offences that we saw. And one was very grateful that at Cambridge there were charges laid and very severe sentences rightly in my view imposed.