BB FANS

Crackdown on World Cup hooligans


A huge crackdown on World Cup football hooliganism involving unprecedented co-operation between German and British authorities is set to be unveiled by Home secretary Charles Clarke.

Around 100 police officers from the UK are expected to travel to Germany for the tournament in June and July.

For the first time, a team from the Crown Prosecution Service are also likely to be on hand to assist with evidence-gathering.

It is hoped their presence will avoid an embarrassing repeat of Euro 2004, when British courts refused to impose football banning orders on some deported fans because their convictions in Portugal might have been unsafe.

Mr Clarke will give details of the massive anti-hooliganism operation at a briefing on Thursday afternoon.

He is expected to announce that a small number of German officers will be stationed at British ports to help screen fans in the run-up to the event.

Administrative changes to speed up the system for imposing football banning orders are also likely to be revealed, as well as updated figures on the number of people currently subject to orders.

Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell, recently embroiled in allegations concerning her husband's business affairs, will attend the launch, along with senior police and prosecutors. guardian

UKTV to share World Cup



Digital television channel UKTV G2 will show 64 World Cup games this summer in a sub-licensing a deal with the BBC and ITV.

The channel, jointly owned by BBC Worldwide and Telewest, will screen 31 live matches - including the opening game and World Cup final - and a selection of other key games such as England, Brazil and France matches.

The package, sub-licensed from the BBC and ITV who are joint owners of the UK World Cup TV broadcasting rights. This is UKTV's biggest ever sports acquisition.
UKTV G2 has recently branched out into sports programming. This season it began sub-licensing coverage of 6 Nations rugby union internationals.

UKTV G2 will dedicate more than 200 hours of programming to the World Cup with a daily highlights show in addition to the live and recorded games. Presenters are yet to be announced.
guardian

Sven won't stop World Cup stars doing deals
"It would be good if every deal was done before the World Cup but I will not rely on that. If players are going to be transferred, that's life. It's so important for players" - Sven-Goran Eriksson
Sven won't stop World Cup stars doing deals
3.30PM, Thu Mar 16 2006

England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson has admitted that he cannot stop his players from holding transfer talks during this summer's World Cup finals.

Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard's form suffered in Euro 2004 when his proposed big-money move to Chelsea took shape as England played in Portugal.

England captain David Beckham of Real Madrid and Arsenal left-back Ashley Cole, who has again been linked with Chelsea, will be among the players who may be negotiating transfers or new contracts this summer.

But Eriksson, who will be looking to tie up his own future before the tournament kicks off in Germany in June, is not worried and refuses to ban mobile phones from England's World Cup base camp in Germany's Black Forest.

The 57-year-old Swede said: "It would be good if every deal was done before the World Cup but I will not rely on that. If players are going to be transferred, that's life. It's so important for players.

"When you are going to change clubs, or change cities or change countries, it is your life. I don't want to see agents in the team hotel but it's very easy for them to talk because everyone has a mobile phone. But it's all right if managers want to come to talk to their players."

Meanwhile, Eriksson is to put two or three players on World Cup stand-by at the end of the season, depending on the fitness of injury victims like Michael Owen, Cole and Sol Campbell.

The Swede plans to name a provisional 23-man squad for Germany on May 8 plus some reserve players and added: "We will name 25 or 26 players. Everyone will know who are the 23 and who are the extra two or three.

"It's not going to be a competition. They will know they are going to be reserves, shadowing people with possible injuries."

The England boss still hopes world football's governing body Fifa will delay its deadline for final squads to be submitted for the tournament.

At the moment, managers must have the names in by May 15 - but that date is before the Champions League final and England's last two warm-up friendlies against Hungary and Jamaica.

England and other European countries are lobbying Fifa to move the deadline back to June 5, four days before the finals kick off.

ITV

Rooney can't wait for World Cup finals
"As a young lad I used to love watching the World Cups and seeing the best players in the world, and I'm lucky enough hopefully to be playing in one"


Manchester United star Wayne Rooney cannot wait to lead England's attack in this summer's World Cup finals.

The 20-year-old striker is viewed by many commentators as being key to Sven-Goran Eriksson's men's chances of success in Germany.

But the former Everton trainee has insisted that he is just glad that he will be involved in world football's most prestigious competition.

He said: "I'm very excited. As a young lad I used to love watching the World Cups and seeing the best players in the world, and I'm lucky enough hopefully to be playing in one."

Meanwhile, Rooney, who confesses to being "shy", is hopeful that his forthcoming five-part life story will give the public a true insight into his life.

The �27 million United sensation added: "People paint me to be something I'm not. I'm just a normal lad who does normal things, and I'd like to get that point across to people."
ITV

Triple fitness boost for Sven and England
"I spoke to Ashley Cole twice recently and he thinks he will be back in training in two weeks. Michael Owen is supposed to be ready very soon and Sol played in a reserve game yesterday and that's very good news"

Sven-Goran Eriksson has received some encouraging news about the fitness of injured trio Michael Owen, Ashley Cole and Sol Campbell.

But the 57-year-old Swede has admitted his fears for some of England's injured stars are growing as the clock ticks towards the end of the season and this summer's World Cup finals in Germany.

Eriksson, who is set to name his 23-man World Cup squad on May 8, told reporters as he checked out England's training and hotel facilities for the finals in the Black Forest: "I spoke to Ashley Cole twice recently and he thinks he will be back in training in two weeks.

"Michael Owen is supposed to be ready very soon and Sol played in a reserve game yesterday and that's very good news."

"I have concerns about all of them because we are in the middle of March and the season finishes for them at the beginning of May. I hope all of them will be on the pitch very soon."

With on-loan Fulham **** Wayne Bridge poised to make his comeback after damaging ankle ligaments during England's friendly win over Uruguay a fortnight ago, Eriksson's main injury worries include Kieron Dyer, Jonathan Woodgate and Owen Hargreaves.

The England squad is due to be based near the famous health resort of Baden Baden, at the impressive Buhlerhohe Schlosshotel, from June 5 until they are knocked out of world football's most prestigious competition or head to Berlin for the World Cup Final.

The hotel, built as a convalescence home for German officers in World War I, has played host to the likes of international statesmen like Bill Clinton and Nelson Mandela.

And Eriksson added of the accommodation, which can cost up to �1,400 per night: "I am happy with this place and you can see why. The FA are very good at selecting the best hotel and this will suit us.

"It is remote on purpose because we will have a lot of people around us in the World Cup. England are an extremely popular team with lots of fans and we must have a private place.

"We have a gym and a spa and the hotel has one of the best medical centres in the whole of Europe. Hopefully we won't be using it that much."
ITV

Comedy pair to report on World Cup

Frank Skinner and David Baddiel are to broadcast from the World Cup - via podcast.

The comedy pair will travel from game to game with England fans this summer.

They will produce a series of 10 podcasts available free via the TimesOnline website.

The new venture comes after ITV announced they would not be commissioning a World Cup series of Skinner and Baddiel's show Fantasy Football.

"The podcast is a great medium for me and Frank because it's new, direct to fans, interactive and doesn't require us to look good," Baddiel said.

Skinner added: "I see Dave and me as two on-the-spot comedy reporters, sending home the whole World Cup experience in regular podcast-sized packages.

"I'm really looking forward to it, especially the We-just-won-the-World-Cup special."

The comic duo had a number one hit during Euro 96 with the Three Lions anthem and have made six series of Fantasy Football.

They have been in discussions with other broadcasters about a World Cup TV show.

The podcasts will be available exclusively at TimesOnline and full details of how to download them will be published in The Times.
NEWSBOX

BBC To Screen World Cup In HDTV

Waveguide - World CupThe BBC is to screen this summer's football World Cup and Wimbledon championships in High-definition television (HDTV), the corporation confirmed today.

The trial run of the service will include the BBC's share of World Cup matches and key Wimbledon ties in June.

The corporation is to trial HDTV for up to a year, starting in mid-May.

The system delivers more detailed pictures and sharper action shots, and will be an additional stream to the current analogue and digital services.

HDTV will only be available to viewers who have HD-enabled television sets, set-top boxes and relevant services via satellite and cable distributors.

The BBC's head of sport, Roger Mosey, said the service was particularly effective with live action football and other sports.

"It gives fantastic picture quality, from the blades of grass that are being played on right to the back of the stands," he said.

The first World Cup match and live HDTV programme to be broadcast will be Germany v Costa Rica on June 9, which will also include match commentary and studio coverage.

High-definition images will also be fed into standard digital and analogue transmissions of the game and the Wimbledon Championships, where the BBC is the host broadcaster.

HDTV transmissions cannot be offered on Freeview at present due to limited airspace, while a trial limited to a few hundred households in London which have yet to be chosen will take place.

The digital switchover between 2008-2012 is expected to provide an opportunity to broadcast HDTV via Freeview. waveguide

'RACE FOR GLORY


THE rumour mill has been in overdrive - but we can reveal that the official FA England World Cup song will be recorded by Embrace.

The Yorkshire band, at No.2 with Nature Law, will record World At Your Feet. "The band can't wait to get into the studio," says lead singer Danny McNamara.

"We think we've got a really good song and hopefully it will repeat the success of songs like New Order's World in Motion."

Their album This New Day came out on Sunday and may now top next week's charts. Roll on summer. Mirror

BBC Job For Kelvin MacKenzie

Kelvin MacKenzie makes his BBC radio debut this summer in two programmes looking at scandals that have surrounded past World Cups.

The former editor of the Sun and former CEO and Chairman of the Wireless Group will start BBC Radio Five Live's World Cup offering with a wry look at the players and the managers who have courted notoriety in World Cup Scandals.

From allegations about shoplifting and Bobby Moore in 1970 to Maradona's dramatic exit at the USA Tournament in 1994, McKenzie looks at some of the more notorious figures in the world game.

With the World Cup in Germany about to start this summer Kelvin explores the delicate relationship the current squads have with the media, providing a fitting tribute to the current England Coach Sven-Goran Eriksson and looking at some of the stories that will follow the team to the tournament.

Five Live Controller Bob Shennan said: "Kelvin is a legend in newspapers and someone with a real passion for sport.

"He's a superb story teller and I'm sure this will make for a great listen."

Kelvin MacKenzie said: "I'm delighted to be presenting these programmes for Five Live.

"They will be a fascinating romp through the bungs, boozing and bonking that have tarnished the reputation of so many players and tournaments. How could I resist?" WAVEGUIDE

BBC to show World Cup in high definition

The BBC will broadcast its 2006 World Cup coverage and major Wimbledon matches in high definition as part of its pioneering trial.

The BBC HD trial kicks off with the opening game of the World Cup as hosts Germany face Costa Rica and continues up to and including the 9 July final.

The World Cup will be the first major sporting event to be broadcast in HD in the UK.

The BBC's HD trial will continue at Wimbledon from 26 June-10 July.

HD is a new kind of television which delivers more detailed pictures and sharper shots of fast-moving action than conventional 'standard definition'.

The HD format will be an extra stream available alongside conventional analogue and digital broadcasts.

It will only be accessible to viewers who have all of the following:

HD ready televisions
HD set top boxes
HD services from satellite or cable providers.

The BBC HD trial will run for about 12 months.

It will feature some of the BBC's most ambitious programmes, such as natural history series Planet Earth and Galapagos and drama documentary Hannibal, in HD quality.

BBC Director of Sport Roger Mosey said: "High definition works particularly well for sport.

"It gives fantastic picture quality, from the blades of grass that are being played on right to the back of the stands, and although only limited numbers of people will be able to see this trial we hope it will be a glimpse of the future." BBCSport

BBC Loses Le Saux

Former Chelsea and England defender Graeme Le Saux will be missing from the BBC's World Cup coverage this summer after a row over who would be co-commentating on England's games.

Le Saux has been a highly visible member of the BBC's pundit team in recent weeks and was due to appear on Match of the Day with presenter Gary Lineker tomorrow night.

But after a fall-out with the corporation's sport chiefs, the 37-year-old has handed in his notice and will not be on our screens from Germany this summer.

Le Saux is said to have been initially offered the chance to co-commentate on England's matches in the tournament, only to belatedly find out there had been a change in plan and that veteran pundit Mark Lawrenson was to get the job instead.

Annoyed at the way the news was broken to him and disappointed at being overlooked in favour of the more senior Lawrenson, Le Saux then turned down the opportunity to be involved in a lesser capacity.

A BBC spokeswoman said: "Graeme Le Saux was moved off the England commentary team because the BBC felt for games of this significance the audience would want the experience and expertise Mark Lawrenson brings to the commentary box.

"Graeme was offered an alternative role at the World Cup and opportunities to continue to learn and develop his skills within the BBC but he declined the offer." waveguide

Graeme Le Saux being got rid of is an amazing achievement for the BBC and one they should be proud of!

best news in ages. Well done BBC.

ANT AND DEC : We don't Embrace anthem
Sun

We're No. 1



WHEN Wimbledon FC were in their prime, they used to frighten the opposition by taking a radio into the dressing room and blasting our hardcore techno house music.


Vinnie Jones and his team-mates might have hated the din, but they knew that the opposition hated it more. Victory was theirs. They charged onto the field of play - hearts racing at 200 beats per minute - ready to do some damage.

Such a policy might also work for the English national side. Team England are always slow starters in tournaments (and too-quick finishers), and the idea of Sven dispensing with his pre-match whispers to blare out Funk D’Void’s Volume Freak is worthy of consideration.

In Euro ’96, while we sang Three Lions on the terraces, better had the lads stuck on Black Grape’s England’s Irie in the dressing room, a song that features the threatening lyric “Cut the trigger, I fire like this”.

But you can talk and talk and talk and still the FA will produce (How Does it Feel To Be) On Top of the World, the disastrous 1998 song featuring the Spice Girls and Ian McCulloch.

Of course, as Kevin Keegan assured us back in 1982, this time it will be different. This time England will be cheered on by Embrace.

As the Times says, this band have an affinity with the national game. BBC TV’s Match Of The Day uses their song Ashes to spice up the Goal Of The Month competition (“I’ve waited and given the chance again/ I’d do it all the same but either way/ I’m always out played up on your down days/ I left in the right way to start again”.) And the band’s Gravity was used as the theme for the film Mike Bassett: Manager.

Which means that the FA’s search for a song is over. Tom Harold, the FA’s marketing manager, is relieved. “With only 75 days to go until England’s first game, against Paraguay, everybody has been asking who will get the gig. We’d like to think we’ve pulled off something of a coup by bagging such a great band,” he tells the Times.

Sure, the FA would like to congratulate itself. But before the blazers order champagne and secretaries all round, they should consider what it is they hope to achieve by the song.

Do they want the fans to hum the official anthem in their cars and sing it in the ground? Or do they want it to stir the team into a state of rare excitement and passion - and for the Brazilians, Germans and Dutch to hate it? Anorak