Football: Fences for World Cup criticised

The Football Supporters' Association yesterday said that the French government's decision to keep security fences at World Cup venues was "very disappointing".

The FSA's Premier League representative, Sam Johnstone, said: "Fencing was responsible for the tragedy at Hillsborough in 1989. Fencing was put around grounds in the 1970s and it has led to disasters from Sheffield to Guatemala.

"It looks as though the French Government are ignoring the wishes of Fifa [the governing body of world football]... Fifa are only allowing all-seater stadia to stage major international tournaments - but `no fencing' should also be top of their list. We've had full backing from Fifa and a lot of people will be campaigning against this."

Alain Cheneau, head of security at Lens Football Stadium, said: "Anyone that I know who is responsible for security is against having fencing."