World Cup hooliganism greater threat in Britain than South Africa: Police chief
April 27th, 2010 - 4:52 pm ICT by ANILondon, Apr 27(ANI): The threat of violence from football hooligans during this summer’s World Cup will be far more in Britain than in South Africa, police chiefs fear.
The officer in charge of policing England’s World Cup travelling fans, Andy Holt, said there were concerns that violence will flare amongst drunken fans watching televised games in pubs and clubs in England.
“If we have a hot June and England progress to the later stages, then pubs start running alcohol promotions and we have the potential for trouble from drunken fans,” The Telegraph quoted Holt, as saying.
Holt, who will be travelling to South Africa with a team of 12 British officers to support the local policing of the competition, further warned that hooligans will face a “robust” South African police force armed with guns, plastic bullets and water cannons.
He said he has been explaining the culture of English football fans to his South African counterparts.
“Initially they had an image of England fans on the rampage, but we have explained that they shouldn’t see the traditional singing and chanting as a precursor to violence,” he added. (ANI)
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Tags: andy holt, drunken fans, england fans, english football fans, flare, football hooligans, hooliganism, plastic bullets, police chief, police chiefs, police force, precursor, pubs and clubs, rampage, south africa police, south african police, televised games, travelling to south africa, water cannons, world cup
