Two British men who flew to Japan for the upcoming World Cup soccer finals were refused entry at Narita airport because their names were on a "hooligan list," and they are to be deported soon, immigration officials said Monday.
The two, both 34, were detained after arriving at Narita airport Sunday on a Turkish airliner from Istanbul because their names were found on a list of some 200 alleged hooligans that immigration authorities obtained from a foreign police intelligence organization.
The officials said they have ordered the two to leave Japan and they will soon be deported. The 2002 World Cup, cohosted by Japan and South Korea, begins Friday and ends June 30.
The two were detained in a room in the airport for people who are denied entry to Japan. The men said they came to see soccer matches in Japan, the officials said.