British Soccer Fan Feared Lost at Sea

LONDON — A North Sea ferry sailing to Sweden turned back for Britain on Monday after a British soccer fan apparently jumped overboard during disturbances on the ship, a police spokesman said.

The Scandinavian Seaways ferry Tor Britannia left Harwich for Gothenburg on Sunday evening with 815 passengers on board, most of them Swedish.

A telex from a British police officer on board said that between 150 and 200 England soccer supporters had been drinking heavily and taking drugs.

The message, to Lloyd’s shipping agents of London, said there had been “widespread incidents of disorder,” adding: “There is now positive danger to the vessel, crew and other passengers.”