Four Oxford United hooligans face jail or a hefty fine after they failed to heed a World Cup ban by handing over their passports.

Twelve United supporters are subject to football banning orders, which mean they cannot travel abroad during the World Cup or England's warm-up games.

They had to surrender their passports to police by last Thursday, May 16.

But four supporters failed to do so. They could be sent back to the court that banned them, and face a fine of up to £5,000 and up to six months behind bars.

Pc Bill Linton, Oxford police's football liaison officer, said: "We can arrest them or report them for breach of bail conditions."

Under the Football (Disorder) Act 2000, trouble-makers can be banned from this country's grounds, and matches abroad, for two to three years.

A spokesman for the National Criminal Intelligence Service, said: "We will be putting as many obstacles in the way of these people as we can."

Oxford United has backed the ban. Tony Ashley, the club's safety officer and stadium manager, said: "I think it's important for the prestige of football in the UK that these people don't travel.

"We (England) want to be on the front pages for the right reasons."

Mr Ashley said he knew who the 12 banned supporters were, though neither the club nor the police were prepared to name them.

With 12 supporters excluded, Oxford United is among 30 football clubs with the most bans. Cardiff City has the highest number with 112 orders in place.

Martin Brodetsky, a member of Oxford United supporter's trust OxVox, said the public would welcome the World Cup ban. But he added that there were civil liberty issues connected with people surrendering their passports.

"If it is the only practical and sensible solution you have to accept it," he said.

Supporters who wish to go abroad on holiday can ask for special permission from the Football Banning Orders Authority, which administers the orders.

The National Criminal Intelligence Service spokesman said: "Individuals who are subject to a football banning order are bound to hand in their passports at a nominated police station."