© Reuters 2002

PRAGUE, Oct 11 (Reuters) - Czech police say soccer hooligans looking for a fight will be among thousands of fans arriving in Prague for Saturday's European championship qualifying match between England and Slovakia.

Prague is a popular tourist destination and many fans will take cheap charter flights to the Czech capital and then take a train to Bratislava.

But Prague police official Jiri Weishampl said some hooligans had no intention of travelling to Bratislava.

"We have information from Internet sources that they are preparing to fight each other. They are not coming for the football, they are coming to settle scores against each other," he said on Friday. Officials said about 4,000 tickets were officially sold to English fans but 1,000 more fans are expected to show up for the group seven qualifier. Stadium capacity is about 30,000.

Several minor scuffles were reported in Bratislava on Thursday evening, and bars have already boarded up their windows fearing violence before and after the match.