A riot over stewards' pay and more ranks of empty seats gave World Cup organisers a twin headache yesterday.

After a triumphant opening confounded scepticism about South Africa's ability to host the World Cup, FIFA had to confront the first major unrest of the tournament after Germany's win over Australia in Durban.

Police fired rubber bullets and stun grenades to break up a protest which broke out in the early hours by around 400 stadium staff protesting what they said was a pay cut from 250 rand ($33) to 190 rand per day.

Police broke up the initial protest outside the stadium, but about 200 continued protesting on a nearby street, where rubber bullets and stun grenades were fired to break up the demonstration, she said.

The tournament also faced negative headlines over ranks of empty seats which were spotted at some of the less glamorous ties over the weekend. Around 8,000 seats were empty during Saturday's match between South Korea and Greece, while there were also gaping holes at yesterday's game in the central city of Bloemfontein between Japan and Cameroon.

Later yesterday South African police took control of security at reigning champions Italy's opening World Cup match, after stewards walked out in a spiralling dispute over pay.

The walk-out came only hours after stewards providing security at Durban's World Cup stadium, which are employed by the same private security company, clashed with riot police in a protest over their wages.

The dispute is a major embarrassment for organisers who also had to find alternative transport for nearly 1,000 supporters stuck at Johannesburg's showpiece Soccer City stadium when bus drivers staged a wildcat strike.

A police spokesman confirmed that the stewards, who are employed by the same Stallion company operating in Durban, had gone on strike.

The walk-out came barely three hours before Italy were to begin the defence of their crown against Paraguay at Cape Town's brand new €470 million Green Point stadium.