BRITISH Forces have banned their supporters from matches in the Hongkong First Division.
After rowdy scenes involving their fans at a league game against Michelotti in mid-December, officials have taken the unusual step of saying their services are no longer required.
This resulted in a small and subdued Forces following among the 38 hardy souls who paid to watch Saturday night's league match against Kui Tan at a bitterly cold Shamshuipo Sports Ground.
Major Don Grant, secretary of the British Forces Hongkong Football Association, said last night: ''We felt they were a bit too over-exuberant during the Michelotti game and that it did not do the team any good.
''At the end of the day we want to keep a nice clean image off the field as well as on it so we let it be known on the grapevine that we would prefer them to keep it clean or stay away.
''The songs were becoming a bit more risque and we did not want it to carry on.'' Forces were promoted from the Second Division last season and their matches against Hongkong's professional teams attracted a noisy band of supporters, several of them decked out in Union Jack flags.
Most of the time their behaviour was good-natured but club officials believe they over-stepped the mark during the game in a boozy Christmas build-up.