Security concerns focus on English, Dutch fans

World Cup organisers said yesterday they will focus security concerns on matches involving England and the Netherlands as soon as tomorrow's draw determines where they will play.

Hooliganism is a big concern for the 2006 finals in Germany. At the last major tournament to be held in Germany, the 1988 European Championship, there were serious problems involving Dutch, English and German fans.

Tournament rules for the 2006 finals in Germany prevent switching any matches from the venues assigned at the draw tomorrow.

That could see group games involving England and the Netherlands being held at some of the smaller venues, increasing the chances of ticketless fans turning up and providing a greater security risk.

Germany and Brazil, by contrast, have already been allocated slots to ensure their group matches are played only in the larger stadiums of Berlin, Munich and Dortmund.

"There will be a seminar to provide team delegates with the information they need to allay any concerns," World Cup organising committee vice-president Horst R. Schmidt said.

"Once we know where England and Holland matches will be, we will come up with a concrete plan."

Hooliganism was also a major problem the last time the World Cup was held in Europe, in France in 1998. A French policeman was beaten almost to death by German hooligans and English fans rioted in Marseille.

The finals begin on June 9 in Munich, when Germany will play an opponent to be decided in tomorrow's draw. The final is on July 9.

Schmidt said everything possible would be done to give national associations more than the minimum ticket allocation of eight per cent for each match.

"We're promising to make more available if we can," he said.

More tickets could become available for one team if their opponents do not take up their full allocation, or if sponsor, partner or hospitality tickets are returned.

The final public sales window, which opens on December 12, will put around 250,000 tickets up for grabs, Schmidt said. The final figure will be decided by January 31.

Schmidt said there were no plans to abandon the plan to print the holder's name on all tickets, questioned on Monday by FIFA president Sepp Blatter who suggested the German organisers were complicating the scheme by trying to be too perfect.