Soccer: NZ hire private security firm

New Zealand Football have hired a South African security firm previously used by the All Blacks and Hurricanes to help protect them during the World Cup.

Tournament organisers have assured teams over the safety of players and officials but several countries have already made their own arrangements for additional security.

It's been reported that New Zealand, Italy, Australia and Germany have employed their own security force to work alongside those provided by Fifa but NZF chief executive Michael Glading said he would be "staggered" if it was only four. Greece are also reported to be looking into it.

"We have hired a South African to oversee our security," Glading said. "He will link with the security Fifa provide and liaise between them and the team.

"We have hired his company so we are not sure if he will be by himself or comes with an army but he has a reputation as one of the best in the business.

"It was something that came out of discussions with the Hurricanes [about planning for the World Cup]. They have a guy who they use and I'm pretty sure the All Blacks also use him. Fifa are encouraging countries to have their own security as well as what they provide."

Security is a major concern for everyone travelling to South Africa for June's World Cup. Last week, two South African men threatened to rob and kill fans during the tournament, while a British company also heightened fears by advertising anti-stab vests.
These came on the back of the attacks on the Togo football team heading to the Africa Cup of Nations in Angola, where three members of the party were killed.

Although this attack does not appear to have had a direct effect on countries' planning, it highlighted the appeal to terrorist organisations of what are known in the security industry as "target-rich environments".

The host nation has spent more than $220 million on extra security for the tournament, including helicopters, water cannon, highway patrols and 41,000 dedicated officers.

A spokesman for the German Football Association said that it would probably employ six to eight unarmed private security officers to travel with the team.

Italy's football association said it had decided to use private security "but we do not know how many people yet".

A Football Australia spokesman said it planned to use "some local resources".

Many of the other countries are waiting until after next month's Fifa security workshop in Sun City before they finalise plans.

One South African security firm, Red24, recently outlined the major security risks to the tournament. They identified al-Qaeda sympathisers in the local Somali community as the most credible terrorist threat. They also isolated England's games against Slovenia and Algeria, as well as Germany's match with Serbia, as those most likely to spur unrest and hooliganism.

A spokesman for the South African FA said: "South Africa has hosted major sporting events and our security has always been vigilant. There is absolutely no panic."

Glading said high levels of security were a reality around big sporting events in the 21st Century. "Since the attack on the Sri Lanka cricket team [last year] all sporting teams have to be aware of their security. It depends on where you go but Africa would be one of the main danger areas. It's no great secret that South Africa is a country with a high crime rate so security will be important."

All Whites midfielder Tim Brown said he had no concerns about player safety. "The level of security for us is going to be over and above [what is needed] because it is so important to South Africa," he said. But he was more worried about his girlfriend and family who would be there supporting him.

NZF are working with the New Zealand Government about a small police force from this country which will also head to South Africa for the World Cup. Glading said they would most likely be engaged to help protect NZF officials, players' families and New Zealand media.

- Additional reporting The Daily Telegraph