'Bullet-Proof Vests' For Germans At World Cup

Kev_ps3

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/5/20091021/twl-bullet-proof-vests-for-germans-at-wo-3fd0ae9.html

Germany's football stars have been warned to expect to wear bullet-proof vests at next summer's World Cup in South Africa.
The head of a security firm said players, like Michael Ballack, would need such protection if they ventured away from the team's Pretoria hotel amid safety fears.

Guenter Schnelle from BaySecur said: "The possibility for the players of moving outside of the hotel boundaries should be kept to a minimum."

"Otherwise there must be a full escort: armed security guards and bullet-proof vests for the players," he told German magazine Sport-Bild.

BaySecur looks after the German Football Federation (DFB) and their guests when the national team plays away from Germany.

It is one of the firms expected to be employed by the DFB while the team is involved in the tournament which begins on June 11.

The final will be held on July 11 at Johannesburg's Soccer City stadium.

The DFB is already looking to step up security around the team's five-star hotel and is set to recruit 20 extra security guards.

There are also worries about security at the Brazil World Cup in 2014.

Due to the high crime rates in South Africa, the DFB is taking no risks, its security boss Helmut Spahn has said.

Private bodyguards will protect the players both in and around the Velmore Grande hotel in the province of Gauteng.

"We will probably use more personnel than we would normally have," said Mr Spahn, who will spend four days in South Africa next week looking at security arrangements.

"We need to first of all get an idea of what security arrangements are already in place for both the team and the media.

"Then we will decide whether to improve the security measures or whether they are sufficient."

According to Mr Spahn, there is little chance the DFB will rely only on local security guards in South Africa and Germany's federal police force are in talks with the DFB on the issue.

Not the most comforting thing for fans thinking of going there that the players will need armed security guards and bullet proof vests:pac:

SpAcEd OuT

A lot of travel agents aren't touching the place.

Absolutely crazy to have the world cup there, I believe something like over 60 people are murdered there daily. Whilst muggings, car jacking and assault are through the roof.

Just to give you an idea, a cousin of mine went over to South Africa for a week on a rugby tour, on the third day their bus was boarded by armed men and they were all mugged.

bobbysands81

SpAcEd OuT wrote: »

A lot of travel agents aren't touching the place.

Absolutely crazy to have the world cup there, I believe something like over 60 people are murdered there daily. Whilst muggings, car jacking and assault are through the roof.

Just to give you an idea, a cousin of mine went over to South Africa for a week on a rugby tour, on the third day their bus was boarded by armed men and they were all mugged.

Spent three night in Jo'berg and would never ever see any reason to go back.

We were staying in their equivalent of D4, basically the safest residential area, the hotel we were in was about 500 metres away from a busy pub. When we got to the pub they were astounded that we walked there from just up the road, when we got back to the hotel they nearly killed us for leaving on our own such is the danger that's around.

A mental decision putting the world cup in a country where security guards are allowed shoot people dead.

Boggles

bobbysands81 wrote: »

A mental decision putting the world cup in a country where security guards are allowed shoot people dead.

Started asking a few questions meself when I saw the Tesco car park attendants over there walking around with large pump action shotguns minding the cars.

Mr_Roger_Bongos

For once FIFA's ambition is honourable, to rotate the world cup among the continents and considering climate and a summer games, south africa is the most viable country in Africa.

I don't see a big problem with the rest of the country but i have no doubts that there will be large scale violence in Johannesburg. Having matches there is just asking for trouble.

Macca07

Anyone know of any trouble there during the Confederations Cup or Lions Tour there this year????

super_furry

The Lions tour saw an influx of about 15,000 people. The Confederations Cup saw them have to give away tickets to fill stadiums, they're not valid comparisons really.

dannydiamond

A few years back when SA were announced as the hosts for next year I knew that any trip to these finals wasn't going to happen for me.
Tens of thousands of football fans descending on an already troubled country is just asking for trouble.Personally I wouldn't go near it,and articles like the one above can't have fans brimming with confidence.

death1234567

It just shows what a moronic decision it was by FIFA to stage the world cup there.

The_Kew_Tour

SpAcEd OuT wrote: »

A lot of travel agents aren't touching the place.

Absolutely crazy to have the world cup there, I believe something like over 60 people are murdered there daily. Whilst muggings, car jacking and assault are through the roof.

Just to give you an idea, a cousin of mine went over to South Africa for a week on a rugby tour, on the third day their bus was boarded by armed men and they were all mugged.

Sweet Jesus thats flipping crazy.

Not major shocked but still.

Ya agree though was bad move by FIFA.

stovelid

That's it.

I'm supporting Portugal.

It's imperative that Ronaldo get there now.

Pro. F

It was an honorable motive from fifa bringing the world cup to africa but they shouldn't have let their hearts rule their heads. They've settled for South Africa as it sort of meets their requirements without actually looking into it in much detail. The end result is going to be some dead fans. Well done fifa.

Dont be at yourself

For a morbid bet, I wonder what the odds are on the teams in the final wearing black armbands?

pablomakaveli

I reckon theres more likely to be an upsurge of dead criminals when the World Cup is on. The South African authorities won't want to see any visiting fans killed or attacked and will probably have a higher security presence who'll have a mandate to stamp down on any criminals.

stovelid

pablomakaveli wrote: »

I reckon theres more likely to be an upsurge of dead criminals when the World Cup is on. The South African authorities won't want to see any visiting fans killed or attacked and will probably have a higher security presence who'll have a mandate to stamp down on any criminals.

Yeah, the security will be insane.

I'm sure the bigger teams will also have private security as well.

kinaldo

Apparantly South Africa has an average rate of 40,000 murders and 20,000 car-jackings per year.

From people I know though, I've mostly heard good things.

I will watch the World Cup with great interest from the safety of my own home.

Gavin "shels"

...and why is the World CUp being held there!?

ArmaniJeanss

Gavin shels wrote: »

...and why is the World CUp being held there!?

Because its one of the safest countries in the World, bar a few urban pockets.
Its less safe than Europe admittedly, (and sadly they won't let us have the World Cup in Europe all the time anymore) but its a haven of tranquility and easily in the top 30% of safe countries in the World so long as the average traveller displays some common sense.

I often wonder are the boards.ie equivalents in Honduras, Cote D'Ivoire, North Korea, Chile, Bosnia etc full of people complaining about the dangers they'll face next June when they sun themselves on the Cape Town beaches with a beer in their hand.