Horst R Schmidt, senior vice-president of the 2006 World Cup organising committee has admitted that the Confederations Cup has been a success, although the competition has highlighted security issues and ticketing problems.
“It has been satisfactory so far but we must be discreet in our evaluation as only 12 of the 16 matches have been played, but there are some concerns.
“The first is security inside the stadiums as three spectators have been able to run on to the pitch during matches. We need to look at the security inside the stadiums and the way the stewards are working very closely.
“We know you cannot have a totally 100 percent safe concept and we certainly do not want to have a cordon of policemen around the pitch.
“We think stewards every eight to 10 metres is the right level, but anyone who wants to get on to the pitch will try and distract the stewards and run through. We must improve this aspect.”
He also noted the microchip technology incorporated into the match tickets was causing problems.
“If a chip becomes broken, or somehow damaged perhaps even by something sharp like a pin, the turnstile will not open and we have to improve on that.
“Of course, we have a back-up system and a control system to find out what is going wrong. I haven’t heard of anyone waiting half-an-hour here to get their ticket sorted, but we need to try and improve the way the system works.”
Franz Beckenbauer, president of the World Cup organising committee, said he was confident any teething problems would be sorted out in time for the finals.
He added that overall the Confederations Cup had been a great success.
“Six or seven years ago countries would send their B or even their C teams, but the perception has changed,” he said.
“Holding the tournament every four years instead of every two years and staging it in the nation that will host the World Cup the following year has given it an important place in the calendar now,” he added.
