World Cup stadia safe promise German organisers
(AFP)
Updated: 2006-02-07 09:32

BERLIN (AFP) - The German World Cup organising committee revealed that they do not want anything more to do with consumer protection watchdog Stiftung Warentest following their stinging criticism of the World Cup stadia.

"There are no doubts about the incredibly high security standards at our World Cup stadia," countered German interior minister Wolfgang Schauble, chairman of the organising board.

Just last month Stiftung Warentest, Germany's leading consumer safety group, claimed there were serious safety problems at several of the venues for this summer's World Cup.

The group said the ditch surrounding the pitch at Berlin's Olympic Stadium, the venue for the final on July 9, would be dangerous in a stampede and also attacked three other stadia.

The grounds in Leipzig and Gelsenkirchen were reproached for their lack of gates to help evacuate fans onto the pitch in case of an emergency.

Kaiserslautern's stadium was accused of being unable to cope with a fire hazard.

West Germany's 1974 World Cup winner Franz Beckenbauer, head of the organising committee, has already rubbished fears over safety.

"The Stiftung Warentest might know what it's talking about with face creams, and vacuum cleaners, so it should stick to them," Beckenbauer told newspaper Bild.

"To be perfectly honest, I've had enough of these know-it-alls who are trying to make a profit from the World Cup."

The World Cup begins on June 9 with Germany hosting Costa Rica for the opening fixture in Munich.

The final of the 64-match programme takes place in Berlin a month later.