/ 13 January 2010

German FA backs World Cup security

German football federation (DFB) president Theo Zwanziger has backed South Africa on security at the World Cup following the gun attack on the Togo national team bus in Angola.

Zwanziger told Die Welt daily published on Wednesday that German football fans should have no concerns about visiting South Africa for the tournament beginning on June 11.

“We have complete confidence in the government in South Africa, Fifa and the national organising committee as far as security is concerned,” Zwanziger said.

The important thing for anyone visiting the tournament was to “follow exactly the advice of the security authorities” in South Africa, he added.

However Zwanziger said he could not imagine the attack on the Togolese team bus not having any consequences for the World Cup tournament.

“The tragedy gives cause for intensive reflection on what has been done for security at the World Cup and above all what has still to be done,” he said.

The German federation will be looking closely at what can be improved “to guarantee maximum safety for our players as well as family, support staff and fans,” he said.

German Football League (DFL) president Reinhard Rauball had on Monday raised security concerns following Friday’s attack on the Togo team on its way to the Africa Cup of Nations.

“We must think about how we get a grip on security issues. We can’t simply say that South Africa is something else than Angola,” Rauball said.

His remarks drew criticism from Danny Jordaan, chief executive of the World Cup organizing committee, who said it was wrong to link the attack in Angola with security at the World Cup. — Sapa-dpa