Since late April, Japanese immigration authorities have turned away 16 Britons in the lead up to the World Cup soccer finals, which began Friday in Seoul, according to a British police officer.
Ron Hogg, assistant chief constable with northern England's Durham Constabulary, has been working with Japanese authorities on measures to prevent soccer hooligans from ruining the monthlong tournament in Japan and South Korea.
Hogg said eight of the 16 Britons were denied entry to the country due to drug records or other infringements of Japanese laws. A total of 324 people have been turned away since late April for similar reasons, he added.