ZURICH, Switzerland, Reuter: The all-seater 1990 World Cup finals in Italy will be the safest international soccer tournament. ever held. The International Football Federation (FIFA) General Secretary Joseph Blatter said on Thursday.
Blatter, who confirmed no standing spectators would be permitted at any of the matches during the Italian finals nor during the qualifying games for the 1994 finals. Said he was certain FIFA’s planned ant hooligan measures Would succeed.
“Tam absolutely sure that the 1990 finals will be the safest held not just in theory, but in practice”, Blatter told Reuters.
“There will only be seating. No standing. That, and other measures, will make certain of a safe tournament.
“The Italian organizing committee and the Italian government are very sensitive to the possible problems and are Working with us to make sure of safe tournament”.
{n addition to the provision of all-seater stadia with individual seats, each with a number. and not with benches, the tournament will be governed by strict measures similar to those used in Mexico in 1986.
Spectators are to be searched for dangerous or offensive materials, including alcohol and fireworks, and video equipment will be used to make it possible to identify visually any troublemakers, Alcohol will not be on sale in the stadium.
Article extracted from this publication >> December 18, 1987
