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London plans World Cup fan zones despite violence fears
Matthew Beard, Sports News Correspondent01.09.09
City Hall is to defy fears of football violence with plans for an open-air fan zone for next summer's World Cup.
Thousands of Londoners will be able to watch live action from South Africa on a giant screen on the South Bank.
The month-long event will be free but is likely to be ticketed amid concerns of crowd trouble following the violence at Upton Park during last week's West Ham and Millwall match.
It is hoped the event - either next to City Hall or in Battersea Park - will boost the bid for the 2018 World Cup by demonstrating Londoners' passion for football.
There are plans for several other fan zones, including a giant screen on the Serpentine in Hyde Park.
Today Boris Johnson hosts football officials on a two-day tour of London.
A five-strong Football Association inspection team will visit 15 towns and cities before deciding which to include in the bid to Fifa, the world football governing body, in December.
Fan zones were introduced at the 2006 World Cup in Germany and were a huge success.
They showed the action on giant screens in town squares, parks and on river banks and created a family-friendly atmosphere with live music and children's entertainers. They were free and subsidised by sponsors.
Events experts Live Nation, whose portfolio includes this year's Reading and Creamfields festivals, are in talks with City Hall, and Adidas is expected to sponsor the London event.
A World Cup bid source said: "The fan zone has to be ticketed because we don't want to risk scenes of violence in London if England get knocked out at the World Cup in South Africa.
"It would be a huge blow for the bid." A City Hall source said: "We will plan this carefully with police. Security is always a top concern."
London would be guaranteed to be a host city as the final would be at Wembley, but a City Hall-inspired lobby group called London United is pushing to maximise the capital's role.
It wants Arsenal, Tottenham and the 2012 Olympic Stadium to host games.
Headed by Chelsea FC's communications chief Simon Greenberg, the group will aim to persuade the FA that the capital has the best hotels, transport, policing and tourist appeal.
After a day of technical presentations at a West End hotel, bid chiefs will take the inspectors on a Thames cruise.
But budget restrictions mean the group cannot match the 2012 Games bid with lavish gestures such as "dressing" the O2 Arena in Olympic colours.
Reader views (3)
As one who has experienced Fan Zones in both Germany for the world cup and Austria last year in the european championships, the reason they were a success is because there were no British hooligans creating havoc and starting fights with opposing fans.
- Mr S.Port, London
Whos is paying for it?
- P Staker, London
Why bother when you can watch this lot lose and commiserate in the comfort of your own home.
- Steve, London
