THE family of a New Forest man among the England fans booted out of Portugal after outbreaks of violence continue to await the return of their son.

Jonathan Hart, 26, has been in custody waiting to come home after agreeing to leave the country voluntarily over allegations of rioting.

Yesterday, the Daily Echo reported how the leisure centre manager was one of 33 fans said to be involved in a drunken street brawl.

But family members immediately jumped to his defence saying they believe he was innocent.

Mum Glynnis Edwards, of Wheelers Walk, Blackfield, said: "We think he's innocent but we don't really know anything at the moment.

"My sons went out to play golf and was planning to catch a couple of matches at the same time. We haven't spoken directly to him.

"We don't know anything and we're not sure if he's coming back today or tomorrow.

"We heard about his arrest from his brother Gavin who was not arrested."

Gavin Hart, 34, an IT consultant, had told reporters his brother was not one of the 400 fans who went on the rampage in Albufeira.

He said he had credit card receipts which proved the pair were in neighbouring town Vilamoura at the time.

He said they were driving back to their camp site through Albufeira at 3.15am, an hour after the riot, when he dropped his brother off to get some food and he was arrested ten minutes later and was hit on the back with a police baton.

He said: "It's a case of mistaken identity."

Fireman Garry Mann from Kent has been jailed for two years for his part in riots the previous day.