JOHANNESBURG — FIFA is pledging tightened security after an angry fan broke through security lines and slipped into the England locker room in Cape Town after its 0-0 draw with Algeria.
England officials complained to FIFA about Friday’s security lapse, which happened within minutes of a visit from Prince William and Prince Harry. FIFA spokesman Nicolas Maingot said soccer’s governing body will make sure such a breach does not happen again.
There was no physical threat to the team, and local police are investigating, organizing committee spokesman Jermaine Craig said.
The man is reported to have verbally confronted players and had an angry exchange with David Beckham before being escorted from the stadium.
Beckham, a former England captain, said the fan casually walked in, said something derogatory to him and walked out again.
There was no scuffle or aggression, he said.
U.S. game a record TV draw.
The United States’ controversial 2-2 World Cup draw with Slovenia, in which an apparent late go-ahead goal for the Americans was disallowed by a referee, drew the most households for a soccer match in ESPN’s history.
Friday’s game received a 3.9 fast national rating, ESPN said, and was seen in 3,906,000 homes. The 5.2 million viewers were the third-most for soccer on the cable network, trailing only 5.85 million for Italy’s 2-0 overtime win over Germany in the 2006 and 5,353,000 for Germany’s 1-0 win over the U.S. in 2002.
Worries for host team.
Former South Africa coach Ted Dumitru is concerned that a first-round exit by the World Cup hosts could have a negative impact on soccer in the country.
“Now, I’m worried that if they see the team not doing well, they might say ‘There is nothing in this sport; let’s go back to rugby and cricket.’ “
