Germany may tighten border controls for World Cup

(L-R) German Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble, World Cup organizing committee chief Franz Beckenbauer and FIFA president Sepp Blatter at a security conference in Berlin.

German Minster of the Interior Wolfgang Schaeuble has revealed that the German governement are considering overruling the Schengen agreement for the duration of this summer's World Cup and reimposing border controls to combat hooliganism.

The Schengen agreement allows travellers to cross certain borders without showing their passports and Germany is one of 15 countries to sign the agreement.

Germany has borders with six Schengen countries in Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, France and Austria, and Schauble indicated that border controls could be reintroduced to tighten security.

Portugal, another of the Schengen countries, used this policy two years ago at the Euro 2004 finals.

Speaking at a World Cup security meeting in Berlin on Thursday, Schaeuble said the country was well-equipped to protect the safety of the players and spectators when the finals begin on June 9.

The Minister of the Interior confirmed that the German army had allocated 2000 soldiers for World Cup security with an additional 5000 soldiers ready to be deployed in an emergency.

The German government have also enlisted the help of British police to deal with any unruly England's fans.

English hooligans fought with rival fans at the 1998 World Cup in France and caused chaos at Euro 2000 in Belgium.

But while stressing that security measures were in place Schaeuble said the fun element of the World Cup would not be spoiled by excessive security.

The 64-match finals kicks off on June 9 with Germany hosting Costa Rica in Munich.

The World Cup concludes a month later with the final at Berlin's Olympic Stadium.