IN BRIEF : Soccer Fans Oppose ID Card Plan

Eighty percent of soccer fans oppose the government’s plan to introduce identity cards to curb crowd violence, a national opinion poll revealed today.

But the poll, commissioned by the English League First Division club, Millwall, also found that a majority of the electorate--both fans and non-fans--support the Football Spectators Bill, which plans to restrict entry to soccer matches to registered supporters only.

As details of the poll were released, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher condemned as “absolutely appalling and utterly disgraceful” last Saturday’s outbreaks of soccer violence in which more than 250 people were arrested at the last full league program of the season. Speaking in the House of Commons, she underlined her determination to impose tougher curbs on spectators before the start of next season.

“More steps need to be taken,” Thatcher said.