We can control World Cup hooligans say German police

By Philip Blenkinsop

BERLIN (Reuters) – Police are optimistic the 2006 World Cup
will be spared major outbreaks of violence after the draw for
the opening stage threw up no high risk matches, the head of a
German anti-hooligan unit told Reuters.

“There are no (first round) matches that pose an obvious
risk, so we are happy,” Michael Endler, head of the German
police unit monitoring hooliganism, said in an interview late
on Monday.

“There could be small problems in one or two places, but I
stress small. I am not having sleepless nights,” Endler said,
looking ahead to the month-long tournament.

Large European footballing nations were seeded for the draw
and so kept apart in the opening group phase of the month-long
tournament. The Netherlands avoided any clash with England or
Germany — all three have some hooligans among their fans.

One problematic fixture could be that between hosts Germany
and Poland on June 14 after around 50 fans from each country
brawled near the Polish border two weeks ago.

Endler said police were not expecting a repeat when the two
countries meet in June.

“We are regarding it in a relaxed way. There’s no reason
for particular concern,” he said.

Endler’s anti-hooligan nerve center will receive
information on fan movements and potential troublespots, and
expects to be handling 800 to 1,000 messages per day during the
tournament from June 9 to July 9.

Endler promised police would be “friendly, open, but also
firm” toward visiting fans and would seek to step in before
violence erupted. Authorities would prosecute and punish
troublemakers rather than just deport them.

England is likely to send the largest traveling army of
fans, with around 100,000 expected in Germany, many taking
advantage of the wealth of low-cost flights.

Some 945 English hooligans were detained and expelled after
rioting in Brussels and Charleroi in Belgium during Euro 2000.

However, only 53 were arrested in the European championship
in Portugal four years later after banning orders were imposed
on around 2,700 England fans. Now, some 3,200 face such orders.

“It is the most effective measure,” said Endler.

German hooligans were restrained by having identity cards
and passports confiscated in 2004, a measure that would not
work on home soil. Authorities hope orders to report to local
police stations will keep violent fans away from games.

Critics have said Germany is inviting trouble by
encouraging fans without tickets to visit the country and watch
matches on giant screens in major cities.

“It’s like medicine. The primary effect is to give many
people the opportunity to be as close as possible to the
action. But it can have negative side effects,” Endler said.

“However, I think the positive will overpower the
negative.”