RIOTING fans involved in battles with police at the Holland-Germany international in Rotterdam on Wednesday night will be barred from the European Championship, British police said yesterday.

Dutch police arrested 47 people after fighting broke out before the game. Riot police intervened to keep rival fans apart at the railway station and in the centre of Rotterdam. At least four supporters needed hospital treatment for serious stab wounds.

At the end of the game in the De Kuip stadium, won 1-0 by Germany, riot police made baton charges at German fans who were attempting to smash seats.

The trouble has raised doubts about whether the planned measures for Euro `96 will be sufficient to ensure a trouble-free event.

Detective Inspector Peter Chapman, head of the football unit at the National Criminal Intelligence Service, said he would be discussing the violence with counterparts in Holland and, Germany.

"We need to know who these people were and what they were arrested for. If there are means for stopping them from coming here, we will look at it closely," he said.

He said British officers who will he involved with policing the Dutch and German fans during Euro `96, were in Rotterdam.