The cock-up happened after a list of approved supporters was mistaken for one giving details of soccer yobs.

The English FA sent a list of vetted England fans to the World Cup ticketing centre so that tickets could be sent to genuine fans quickly and easily.

But around 500 fans received replies turning down their ticket applications saying they were subject to a stadium ban.

Sun Online reader and englandfans member Simon Burke was amazed to be called a "safety risk" in an email from FIFA.

He said: "I've never been in trouble with the police in my life.

"I have received an apology, but I wonder how many other innocent fans are very worried as a result."

Yuri Kawamura had a similar experience. She explained: "I received an email from FIFA ticketing that said 'we found out in the course of a vetting that you are subject to an effective stadium ban'.

"This is nonsense. I'm just an ordinary England supporter who goes to as many games as possible, belongs to the England Supporters' Club and have never been banned from anything."

World Cup Organising Committee spokesman Jens Grittner admitted the mistake, saying: "A mistake briefly caused confusion for around 500 English football fans on Wednesday.

"Due to a miscommunication between the committee and the FA, match ticket applications submitted by the fans were initially rejected on the grounds of apparent stadium banning orders.

"The mistake was discovered and a second, corrected message sent to the applicants within a few hours. All the applications remain valid and the persons affected will receive the 2006 FIFA World Cup match tickets allocated to them.

"The 2006 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee regrets the error, and apologises to fans who may have been irritated or offended."

Source: The Sun