Sat Apr 29, 2006 6:49 PM BST
BERLIN (
Reuters) - A court decision clearing the way for harsher penalties against streakers who disrupt soccer matches by running on to the pitch was welcomed by Germany's World Cup organising committee on Saturday.
Horst R. Schmidt, the committee's vice president, said Friday's court ruling upholding a 10,000 euro (6,874 pound) fine against a streaker would serve as a deterrent.
"We're certain that this ruling will have an effect during the World Cup and are delighted to have the appropriate legal means at our disposal now," he said in a statement. "It has been made quite clear that these are not simply misdemeanours."
A state court in the northern city of Rostock upheld a 10,000 euro fine for damages against a streaker claimed by Hansa Rostock for an incident in 2003.
Rostock had been fined 20,000 euros by the German Football Association (DFB) for lax security in 2003 when three streakers ran on to the pitch in two separate incidents during a home match against Hertha Berlin.
The club, in turn, demanded the damages from the streakers, including a maximum of 10,000 euros from one man who ignored warnings after the first two had dashed on to the pitch.
There have been calls in Germany to clamp down on streaking after four spectators evaded stadium security and ran on to the pitch bearing messages on their bodies and clothing during last year's Confederations Cup.
The World Cup organising committee has tightened security and urged tougher penalties against offenders that exceed the 600 Swiss francs (263 pounds) faced by last year's violators.
