Forty four people have been jailed for up to two years for soccer-related violence during the World Cup, the French Justice ministry has said. A further 26 are in jail awaiting trial, 16 have been given suspended sentences and 19 banned from France.

It said 165 people had been prosecuted with troublemakers from three countries France, Britain and Germany.Some 56 French were prosecuted, 42 Britons and 13 Germans.

The two most serious incidents at matches came at England's opening clash with Tunisia in Marseille and Germany's first round game against Yugoslavia in Lens.

In Lens, French policeman Daniel Nivel was battered into coma and left brain damaged by German thugs. English supporter Paul Birch was arrested after fatally stabbing on a train a French engineer he had mistaken for an Argentine fan.