Beautiful game?

Even without the violence, "The Football Factory" was bound to attract controversy.

The film about football hooliganism released less than a month before the European Championships has critics warning of copycat antics out in Portugal this summer.

Meanwhile, the police are already raiding addresses and confiscating passports in an effort to ensure that England's contribution to the tournament stays on the back pages.

Far from an embarrassment, England's hooligan element now threatens the team's progress and almost saw Sven's men thrown out during the qualifying stages.

"The Football Factory" follows the fortunes of a bored 20something finding solace with like-minded football fans who would rather fight than watch the game.

The film has been commended in some circles and condemned in others. Like "ID" before it, "The Football Factory" offers no justification or redemption for its leading characters, which along with the graphic fight scenes, adds to its authenticity.

The producers have been accused of cashing in on the pre-Euro 2004 fever, but the film's lead, Danny Dyer, maintains that the powers that be will always look to for someone to blame if it "goes off" in Portugal.

In an interview with Nuts magazine, he described England as "an island race, born to fight" appearing confident that despite the best efforts of the police, there would be at least some trouble involving England fans next month.

Films on the beautiful game are one of Hollywood's hot topics right now.

"The Yank" is filming currently - it tells the story of an American who is drawn into the culture of football violence in the UK. The American will be played by ex-Hobbit Elijah Wood.

Further filming is currently going on in Newcastle.

The club was selected (possibly due to its contract with Adidas) as the destination of a young player from Los Angeles in the first part of a trilogy.

The Film follows the youth as he leaves his country to play for Newcastle, in the second film he plays for a "top European team", and the concluding part follows him as he plays in the World Cup. The final release of the final instalment is meant to coincide with the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

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