The decision, which has been taken three months in advance of the match, follows many weeks of careful deliberation with security advisers and The FA's earlier announcement that it will not be taking tickets for the away match with Turkey on 11th October 2003.

The FA's Director of Marketing and Communications, Paul Barber, said:

"We have taken this decision following a review of the security advice available to us. The FA now urges England supporters not to travel to Macedonia but to watch the match live on BBC Television.

"Anyone who ignores The FA's advice and decides to travel to Macedonia regardless will only be able to gain access to the stadium via black market tickets. This has the potential to be extremely dangerous.

"The FA will therefore work with English and Macedonian Police to identify anyone who gains access to the stadium in this way. Such individuals risk being banned for life by The FA from attending future England matches.

"Any seats that may have been set aside for England supporters will now be utilised by The FA to bring Macedonian children to the match who might not otherwise have been able to attend. The FA will work with the Macedonian FA and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office to identify appropriate schools, children's homes and charities in Skopje and surrounding areas."

With regard to future England away matches, Paul Barber added:

"In not making tickets available for the Macedonia match, we are most definitely not setting a precedent for the future. It is The FA's intention to make tickets available to England fans for our next away match which is currently scheduled to be a Friendly International in Portugal on 18th February 2004.

"In the meantime, The FA is well aware that some England fans who enjoy travelling to watch our national team play away from home will be disappointed by this decision. 















 

"As a gesture for members of the official supporters' club, englandfans, The FA will, on a first-come, first-served basis, reserve 15,000 tickets for its next home European Championship Qualifier match against Liechtenstein. This allocation represents approximately 25% of all tickets available for home supporters at this match.

"This match, The FA can today confirm, will be played at Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium on 10 September 2003.

"The FA has been delighted with the response of England fans to its recent anti-racism and anti-violence appeals. The behaviour of England supporters at the last three matches versus South Africa, Serbia and Montenegro, and Slovakia has proved that all England supporters can behave in the right way, avoiding racist, violent or anti-social behaviour of any kind.

"The FA's ongoing campaign against racism and violence will be stepped up during the summer months when The FA will hold a meeting with both The Home Office and The Foreign & Commonwealth Office to discuss The Government's role in achieving the common aims of ensuring the continuing good behaviour of England supporters both at home and overseas."