ENGLAND FOOTBALL FAN FAILS IN BID TO CHALLENGE EXTRADITION

THE TELEGRAPH

England football fan Garry Mann has failed in his High Court bid to launch a new legal challenge against extradition to Portugal, where he faces a two-year jail sentence.

The former Kent firefighter, 52, was convicted over a riot during the Euro 2004 tournament but says he never received a fair trial.

His lawyers argued at the High Court in London that there was new evidence from the Foreign Office to support Mann's case against extradition, and allowing it to proceed would violate his human rights.

Mr Mann said: "I am just waiting now for the Portuguese to jump on a plane to come and pick me up. It could be a week or a couple of days."

He said Fair Trials International (FTI) would be "fighting for some kind of transfer to serve my sentence in this country".

Mr Russell said: "Today's decision is a personal tragedy for Garry Mann and a damning indictment of Europe's fast-track extradition system.

"There is no justice in this man being torn from his home and family and sent to Portugal to serve a two year sentence imposed after a grossly unfair trial.

"Fair Trials International will continue the fight for reform of European extradition laws to stop others suffering the same injustice."